“Wolfs,” the upcoming crime film that reunites George Clooney and Brad Pitt, is pivoting its theatrical release plan from a wide release to a limited one before it lands on Apple TV+. And though that may not sound like a vote of confidence, Apple has just announced a sequel for “Wolfs” before it’s even opened.
Jon Watts directs “Wolfs,” and it was originally supposed to get a wide theatrical release on September 20 after first premiering at the Venice Film Festival. That release date is staying the same, but instead of getting a long run in theaters, Apple has also announced when it will drop on Apple TV+, one week later on Sept. 27.
Apple had a box office bomb on its hands with this summer’s “Fly Me to the Moon,” a package the studio acquired for $100 million starring Channing Tatum and Scarlett Johansson that’s a fictionalized comedy and love story about the Apollo 11 moon landing and an attempt to stage the moon landing if the real one goes wrong. The $100 million doesn’t even account for production or marketing costs, and it has yet to land on Apple TV+, but it’s managed only $39 million at the global box office.
Reports have also trickled out that Apple is looking to rein in costs and be a bit more frugal in its series and film production, despite Apple TV+ being such a small line item for a $3 trillion company that Wall Street hasn’t much cared how it does so long as it helps sell iPhones.
But a source says that while “Wolfs” is a pivot, it doesn’t reflect on how it feels about some of its other upcoming titles that are already going theatrical, including another Brad Pitt movie from Joseph Kosinski set for next year, “F1.”
As for the “Wolfs” sequel, Watts is back to write, direct, and produce the sequel, but no cast has formally been set as of yet.
In “Wolfs,” Clooney plays a professional fixer hired to cover up a high profile crime. But when a second fixer (Pitt) shows up and the two “lone wolves” are forced to work together, they find their night spiraling out of control in ways that neither one of them expected. The cast also includes Amy Ryan, Austin Abrams, Poorna Jagannathan, Richard Kind, and Zlatko Burić.
“‘Wolfs’ is the kind of big event movie that makes Apple TV+ such an exceptional home for the best in entertainment,” said Matt Dentler, head of features, Apple Original Films. “With George and Brad’s remarkable and engaging chemistry under Jon Watts’ extraordinary direction, ‘Wolfs’ blends all the great elements of comedy, action, and drama into a hugely entertaining movie that will leave audiences ready for what’s next. Releasing the movie to theaters before making it widely available to Apple TV+ customers brings the best of both worlds to audiences, and we’re excited to see fans embrace the movie as we start working with Jon on the sequel.”
“Wolfs” is an Apple Original Film written and directed by Jon Watts. The film is produced in partnership with George Clooney’s Smokehouse Pictures and Brad Pitt’s Plan B Entertainment. Jon Watts and Dianne McGunigle produce. Clooney produces alongside Grant Heslov through Smokehouse Pictures. Pitt produces alongside Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner for Plan B Entertainment. Producers are Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Grant Heslov, George Clooney, Jon Watts and Dianne McGunigle. Michael Beugg executive produces.
Deadline first reported the news.
