The most viewed Apple TV+ movie ever, Wolfs, is no longer getting a sequel. Despite the original’s success, the next installment has reportedly been canceled.
Director Jon Watts says Wolfs 2 is no longer moving forward
George Clooney and Brad Pitt headlined Apple’s most viewed TV+ film ever earlier this fall. Prior to its September release, a Wolfs sequel was announced as being in the works with Jon Watts, the first film’s director, attached to lead the effort.
Now just a couple months later, Watts says Wolfs 2 won’t be moving forward.
While speaking with Collider’s Steve Weintraub while promoting his new Star Wars series, Skeleton Crew…Watts revealed what’s next for him—and what isn’t on the horizon anymore, saying: “I don’t know what I’m directing next, and I don’t think there’s going to be a Wolfs sequel.”
Wolfs 2 seemed doomed from the start, despite original’s success
Wolfs’ sequel always seemed a bit like a long shot.
Yes, the original film was a hit for Apple in terms of viewership. But Apple’s last-minute change to its theatrical plans didn’t bode well for its relationship with the creatives involved.
Originally, Wolfs was set for a wide theatrical launch. But just weeks before its planned release, Apple announced a big shift in strategy.
Rather than going wide in theaters, Wolfs would only get limited theatrical distribution before launching on Apple TV+.
The news was buried in a press release about Apple green lighting a sequel—clearly an attempt to put a positive spin on the bad news.
Top comment by Carol Danvers
The classic battle between streaming services and the entrenched in-theatre industry. I believe Steven Spielberg originally decried streaming services as detrimental to the traditional in-theatre industry. After the pandemic lockdowns streaming gained even more ground on movie theaters. Now Netflix, Hulu, Apple TV+, Paramount+, produce original content that is only available on their platforms.
I had a dear friend, now passed on, who worked in the theatre industry his entire career. He owned a three screen movie house in a medium sized city. I learned a lot about how the theatre industry works. My friend told me that production companies (Disney, Warner Brothers, et al) take up to 90% of ticket sales, Disney being the worst by far. The theatre owner is left to make a profit selling concessions. So if you ever wondered why that popcorn and soda costs $12 now you know. Production companies send observers to theaters to count people in the audience. That headcount had better match the ticket sales or you’re in trouble. Disney also tries to control what’s shown on other screens when its own movies are showing. The theatre owner must kowtow to Disney or risk not getting any Disney movies to show. Other production companies operate similarly.
Oh, and projectors and sound systems cost ungodly amounts of money to update. Theatre owner’s overhead is tremendous and that’s why we have 10,12, 15 screen behemoths like AMC, Marcus, etc.
But it’s been noted before that for Clooney, Pitt, and director Watts, theatrical support was a big factor in the project originally going to Apple. The tech giant’s last minute reversal likely lost it some goodwill with the creative team.
Despite generally having a strong track record with TV shows, Apple has struggled to find a winning strategy with films. Reportedly, the company is now planning on most of its movies going straight to Apple TV+ with only limited theatrical debuts—very similar to Netflix’s playbook. One big upcoming exception is 2025’s F1, which the company hopes can be its first real summer blockbuster.
Update: Watts has now offered further explanation to Deadline, and it’s as suspected:
I loved working with Brad and George…and would happily do it again. But the truth is that Apple didn’t cancel the Wolfs sequel, I did, because I no longer trusted them as a creative partner.
What do you make of Wolfs 2 being canceled? Let us know in the comments.
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