Jon Watts will not return for Wolf's 2the sequel to the film starring Brad Pitt and George Clooney, due to a conflict with Apple TV+.
Between the enormous belly ofFor Argy (200 million production budget according to JP Box-Officefor 96 million in global revenue according to Box-Office Mojo) and that of To the Moon (100 million production budget for 42 million worldwide revenue), 2024 was not a great year in cinema for Apple. If it is difficult to place these figures in the general economy of the studio (which also counts the VOD and SVoD scores of its platform), those strictly linked to theatrical releases are really not glorious.
Wolfs 2: Jon Watts VS Apple
Enough to give pause to the studio, which is seeking to rethink the exploitation of its films. Last September, the new production of Jon Watts (the Spider-Man du Marvel Cinematic Universe), Wolfswas to benefit from a release in cinemas. Ultimately, Apple changed its mind and the film with Brad Pitt and George Clooney was only allowed limited release across the Atlantic before a rushed arrival on Apple TV+. Which really pissed off its director, who flatly refuses to come back for Wolf's 2. He recently spoke at the microphone of Deadline :
I showed Apple my final version of Wolfs earlier this year. They were extremely enthusiastic and immediately asked me to start writing a sequel. But their last minute change from the promised theatrical release to a streaming release was a total surprise and was done without any explanation or discussion. I wasn't even informed about it until the week before their worldwide announcement. I was completely shocked and I asked them not to communicate about my writing a sequel.
They ignored my request and announced it in their press release anyway, apparently to create a positive spin on their shift to streaming. So I discreetly returned the money they had given me for the rest. I didn't want to talk about it publicly because I was proud of the film and I didn't want to cause unnecessary negative press. […] The truth is that Apple didn't cancel the Wolfs sequel, I did, because I no longer trusted them as creative partners.
The case Wolf's 2 is unfortunately not isolated. Not long ago, director Doug Liman was annoyed by the direct release on Amazon of his remake of Road House and this despite an agreement for a release in cinemas. What place can Hollywood artists and artisans still occupy in the distribution of their films? Failing to see an immediate arrival Wolf's 2remember that the first opus is available on Apple TV+ since September 27.
