Director of Brad Pitt and George Clooney Movie Returns Money for Sequel
The director behind the hit movie starring Brad Pitt and George Clooney, “Wolfs,” recently made a bold move. Jon Watts revealed that he decided to give back the money that Apple TV+ had given him to make a sequel. Why? Because he no longer trusted the streaming service as a creative partner.
“Wolfs” was written and directed by Watts, with Pitt and Clooney playing two professional fixers who don’t usually work together. This film marked the first time the two iconic actors appeared on screen together since 2008.
Initially planned for a wide theatrical release, the film’s distribution strategy shifted when Apple TV+ announced a streaming release after a limited theater run. It premiered on September 27, 2024, and quickly became the most-watched film on the platform.
However, the abrupt change in release plans caught the filmmakers off guard, especially Watts. He shared with Deadline that despite Apple TV+’s initial enthusiasm for the movie, he was surprised by the sudden pivot to a streaming-only release.
Feeling blindsided and left out of the decision-making process, Watts requested that any plans for a sequel not be publicized. Unfortunately, the news was announced anyway, prompting Watts to return the money earmarked for the sequel to Apple TV+.
Watts emphasized that his decision to cancel the sequel was due to a lack of trust in Apple TV+ as a creative partner, rather than any issues with the cast or the original film. The director expressed admiration for the actors he worked with and left the door open to collaborating with them again in the future.
In a related development, George Clooney clarified reports about his and Pitt’s salaries for “Wolfs,” stating that the actual figures were significantly lower than what had been inaccurately reported. Clooney underscored the importance of accurate information in the film industry and how inflated salary reports could negatively impact the industry as a whole.
