Apple TV+ has canceled plans for a sequel to its blockbuster film “Wolfs,” surprise industry analysts who anticipated the project to proceed. Director Jon Watts confirmed the cancellation in a recent interview, saying, “I don’t know what I’m directing next, and I don’t think there’s going to be a ‘Wolfs’ sequel.”
The decision follows the original film’s successful streaming premiere. “Wolfs” became Apple TV+’s most-watched feature film after premiering at the Venice Film Festival, where actors Brad Pitt and George Clooney walked the red carpet.
The film, about two criminal fixers who manage a high-stakes night in New York, initially had distribution issues. Apple revised their distribution strategy just weeks before the premiere, going from a wide theatrical release to a limited one-week theatrical run on September 20 and a streaming release on September 27.
This decision was remarkable given Clooney’s pledge to ensure a theatrical release. Apple was still positive about the film’s potential despite the modified intentions. Matt Dentler, the CEO of Apple Original Films, had praised the film as a “global blockbuster.”
The sequel’s rejection is a big setback for a project that sparked widespread industry interest. Apple had won a fierce bidding war for the initial film and had hired Watts to direct, write, and produce the sequel. The film was particularly anticipated because it reunited Clooney and Pitt, who previously appeared together in the “Ocean’s” trilogy.
Watts, who directed three Spider-Man films starring Tom Holland, was expected to lend his knowledge to the project. However, the sequel will not proceed, leaving fans and industry insiders to speculate on the prospective franchise’s future.
The surprise cancellation raises concerns about streaming platforms’ film plans and the difficulties of creating new movie franchises in a fast shifting entertainment industry.
