Brad Pitt, George Clooney in “Wolves.” Image Credit: Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection
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A planned sequel to the Apple TV+ original film Wolves has reportedly been canceled, in another unexpected turn for both the film series and how Apple appears to be shifting its ambitions for its films.
Writer-director Jon Watts now says he won’t be directing a sequel, despite the success of the first film. “[Apple] was incredibly enthusiastic about it and immediately commissioned me to start writing the sequel. But their last-minute decision to scrap the promised wide theatrical release in favor of a streaming release came as a complete surprise and was made without any explanation or discussion,” he told trade publication Deadline.
“I was completely shocked and asked them not to include the news that I was writing the sequel,” Watts added. “They ignored my request and announced it in their press release anyway, presumably to create a positive twist on their streaming pivot, so I quietly returned the money they gave me for the sequel.”
While Wolves 2 was never officially announced, planned and reportedly greenlit, the film was seen as a way to counter the bad publicity Apple had received for its handling of the original film. Stars George Clooney and Brad Pitt both took significant pay cuts to ensure the hitman action comedy would get the wide theatrical release Apple had originally planned.
However, shortly before release, Apple scaled back its plans and gave it a one-week theatrical run instead. Wolves became Apple TV+’s most-watched original film to date.
This streaming success could have forced Apple to rethink its theatrical plans, especially for a sequel. However, Apple is said to have drastically cut its slate after a string of expensive flops like Killers of the Flower Moon.
Apple is believed to be waiting to see how its next big release, Formula One starring Wolves co-star Brad Pitt, will hit theaters in the summer of 2025. If that fails, Apple is expected to move away from big-budget films and instead release more lower-cost movies.
The company may also decide to acquire finished films instead of either producing them itself or being the sole investor in an independent production. Apple has already acquired films, one of which is the acclaimed 2022 film CODA, which won the first-ever Oscar for Best Picture for a streaming service.
“I loved working with Brad and George (and Amy, Austin, Purna, and Zlatko), and I’d love to do it again,” Watts said, “but the truth is Apple didn’t cancel the Wolves sequel, I did because I no longer trusted them as a creative partner.”
Deadline reports that sources at Apple continue to review the film and its success and remain open to a sequel.
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