Drama surrounding Wolfs on Apple TV+: Director resigns, no longer has confidence
The action flick "Wolfs" is Apple's most popular TV+ film ever – and there was actually supposed to be a sequel. But director Watts no longer wants one.
Jon Watts (left) with stars Pitt and Clooney on the set of "Wolfs".
(Image: Apple)
A well-known Hollywood director is engaged in a public battle with Apple over the most-watched film to date on the Apple TV+ streaming service. Jon Watts, known from various "Spider-Man" flicks, delivered an absolute top film with "Wolfs": The action thriller starring Brad Pitt and George Clooney attracted many new customers to Apple. The iPhone company was so enthusiastic about the collaboration that it announced right on release that there would be a "Wolfs 2" – and Watts was indeed already working on it. But not anymore: the director announced that he no longer had confidence in Apple and had already returned the advance payment.
Director cancels himself
Such a dispute becoming public is rather unusual in Hollywood – Normally, such differences of opinion are dealt with quietly. Watts' actions are correspondingly surprising, as Apple with TV+ is actually – considered a good working environment for stars, also thanks to high budgets –. In this case, however, there were apparently several areas of conflict at once, reports the trade journal Deadline. Watts said that Apple had not stopped "Wolfs 2", he himself had canceled the project.
The reason, he said, was that Apple had significantly scaled back its cinema plans for the film without informing him in good time. According to Watts, he found out about this less than a week before the media. At the same time, Apple had included the information in its announcement of "Wolfs" that there would be a second film with Watts. However, he himself had told Apple not to do this. "I was completely shocked and asked them not to publish the news that I was writing a sequel."
Apple slows down movie plans
"Wolfs" was finally launched on Apple TV+ at the end of September, following a very brief and limited theatrical run. There were no international screenings, although this was initially planned. Apple only brought "Wolfs" to theaters for as long as necessary to compete for film awards such as the "Oscars". Watts, however, had hoped for a regular theatrical exploitation. "They ignored my request [not to mention the sequel] and announced it in their press release anyway, apparently to put a positive spin on their streaming push. And so I quietly returned the money they gave me for the sequel," Watts said in a statement.
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The director went on to say that he initially kept quiet so as not to jeopardize the film's release. "I didn't want to generate any negative press." Watts said he loved working on "Wolfs" –, especially with Pitt and Clooney and the rest of the cast. "But the truth is Apple didn't cancel Wolfs, I did because I no longer trust [Apple] as a creative partner." Apple has not yet commented on the incident. However, sources close to the company told Deadline that they consider the film a success and are still interested in a sequel – but probably not with Watts.
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