Brad Pitt, George Clooney within the movie “Wolfs.” Picture credit score: Columbia Footage / Courtesy Everett Assortment
A deliberate sequel to the Apple TV+ unique film “Wolfs” has reportedly been dropped, marking one other sudden flip for each this movie collection, and for the way it seems Apple is altering its film ambitions.
Author/director Jon Watts now says that he is not going to be doing a sequel, regardless of the primary movie’s success. “[Apple] have been extraordinarily captivated with it, and instantly commissioned me to start out writing a sequel. However their final minute shift from a promised large theatrical launch to a streaming launch was a complete shock and made with none rationalization or dialogue,” he advised business publication Deadline.
“I used to be utterly shocked and requested them to please not embrace the information that I used to be writing a sequel,” Watts added. “They ignored my request and introduced it of their press launch anyway, seemingly to create a constructive spin to their streaming pivot so I quietly returned the cash they gave me for the sequel.”
Whereas by no means formally introduced, the deliberate and reportedly greenlit “Wolfs 2” movie was seen as a option to counter the poor publicity Apple had over its therapy of the unique film. Stars George Clooney and Brad Pitt each took substantial pay cuts to be able to make sure that this hitman motion comedy acquired a large theatrical launch, which Apple initially deliberate.
Nevertheless, shortly earlier than launch, Apple in the reduction of its plans and as a substitute gave it a single week in theaters. “Wolfs” would go on to be the most-watched Apple TV+ unique movie as much as that time.
That streaming success may have made Apple rethink its theatrical plans, particularly for a sequel. Nevertheless, Apple is alleged to have dramatically scaled again its slate following a collection of high-cost flops, resembling “Killers of the Flower Moon.”
It is believed that Apple is ready to see how its subsequent main launch, “F1” starring “Wolfs” co-lead Brad Pitt, fares in cinemas in summer season 2025. Ought to that additionally fail to do effectively, Apple is predicted to step away from high-budget fare and as a substitute produce extra movies which are every decrease price.
The corporate may additionally select to accumulate completed motion pictures as a substitute of both producing itself, or being the only real investor in an impartial manufacturing. Apple does already purchase movies, with one in every of them being the acclaimed 2022 film “CODA”, which earned the first-ever Finest Image Oscar for a streamer.
“I liked working with Brad and George (and Amy and Austin and Poorna and Zlatko) and would fortunately do it once more,” mentioned Watts, “however the reality is that Apple did not cancel the Wolfs sequel, I did, as a result of I now not trusted them as a inventive associate.”
Deadline stories that sources inside Apple proceed to contemplate the movie and success, and stay open to a sequel.