Wolfs 2024 movie will have a limited theater release before streaming on Apple TV+
Apple has changed its plans for the movie “Wolfs,” directed by Jon Watts and starring George Clooney and Brad Pitt, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival. Apple Original Films has made a deal with Watts to create a sequel with Clooney and Pitt.
Instead of being shown widely in theaters, “Wolfs” will have a limited release on September 20 and then will be available on Apple TV+ starting September 27.
Apple confirmed the change in release plans but stated that it doesn’t mean a shift away from its usual strategy of combining streaming releases with wide theatrical releases and promotional campaigns, as seen with “Killers of the Flower Moon” and “Napoleon.” The company will still have a wide theatrical release for its other film featuring Pitt, the Formula One drama “F1,” directed by Joseph Kosinski and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer. Meanwhile, “The Instigators,” a heist film directed by Doug Liman and starring Matt Damon and Casey Affleck, is in limited theaters this week before premiering on Apple TV+ on Friday.
Apple is adapting its release strategy based on market trends, especially after the lackluster performance of “Fly Me to the Moon,” which starred big names like Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum. This film was released by Sony, the same company distributing “Wolfs.”
Looking ahead, Apple’s next big feature is the WWII drama “Blitz,” directed by Steve McQueen, set for a limited theatrical release on November 1. While “Wolfs” has tested well with audiences, Apple believes a limited theater release followed by streaming on Apple TV+ is the best way to maximize its audience.
In “Wolfs,” George Clooney plays a fixer brought in to manage a high-profile crime. When Brad Pitt’s character, another fixer, arrives, they must navigate a night filled with unexpected chaos. The cast includes Amy Ryan, Austin Abrams, Poorna Jagannathan, Richard Kind, and Zlatko Burić, with production by Clooney’s Smokehouse Pictures and Pitt’s Plan B Entertainment.
Wolfs’ is the type of blockbuster that makes Apple TV+ a fantastic platform for top-notch entertainment,” said Matt Dentler, head of features at Apple Original Films. “With George and Brad’s amazing chemistry and Jon Watts’ incredible direction, ‘Wolfs’ combines comedy, action, and drama into an entertaining film that will keep audiences excited for more. Releasing the movie in theaters before making it available to Apple TV+ subscribers offers the best of both worlds, and we’re eager to see how fans respond as we begin working with Jon on the sequel.