Apple Original Films has announced a sequel to the highly anticipated drama Wolfs, directed by Jon Watts and starring George Clooney and Brad Pitt. The original film will make its debut at the 81st Venice Film Festival before transitioning to a limited theatrical release on September 20. Following this, it will be available globally on Apple TV+ starting September 27.
Apple confirmed the revised release strategy, noting it does not indicate a shift in their overall approach. This strategy follows a similar pattern seen with Killers of the Flower Moon and Napoleon, where the company initially had wide theatrical releases before streaming premieres. However, for their other major film featuring Pitt, the Formula One drama F1, Apple will maintain a wide theatrical release. Similarly, the heist film The Instigators, starring Matt Damon and Casey Affleck, is currently in limited release before its Apple TV+ premiere this Friday.
Recent box office performance, such as the underwhelming results of Fly Me to the Moon despite its star power, has led Apple to adapt its strategies based on market conditions. Fly Me to the Moon was distributed by Sony, which will also handle distribution for Wolfs.
Looking ahead, Apple’s next significant release will be Blitz, a WWII drama directed by Steve McQueen, which will have a limited theatrical run starting November 1. Despite Wolfs receiving strong test screenings, Apple believes that this release strategy will optimize the film’s visibility and audience engagement.
In Wolfs, Clooney portrays a professional fixer hired to conceal a high-profile crime. His plans go awry when a second fixer, played by Pitt, arrives, leading to an unexpected and chaotic night. The film also stars Amy Ryan, Austin Abrams, Poorna Jagannathan, Richard Kind, and Zlatko Burić. It is a joint production between Clooney’s Smokehouse Pictures and Pitt’s Plan B Entertainment.
Jon Watts, known for his work on the Spider-Man trilogy and his previous film Cop Car, will produce Wolfs alongside Dianne McGunigle. Clooney and Grant Heslov are producing through Smokehouse Pictures, while Pitt, Dede Gardner, and Jeremy Kleiner are producing through Plan B. Michael Beugg is the executive producer.
Matt Dentler, head of features at Apple Original Films, expressed enthusiasm for the film, stating, “Wolfs is the kind of major event movie that makes Apple TV+ a premier destination for top-notch entertainment. With the dynamic chemistry between George and Brad under Jon Watts’ exceptional direction, Wolfs combines comedy, action, and drama into an immensely entertaining film. We’re thrilled to bring the best of both theatrical and streaming experiences to our audience and look forward to continuing our collaboration with Jon on the sequel.”
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