Apple’s Film Commitment Will Be Over $1B; Question Is, Should It Distribute & Market A Theatrical Slate, Or License Out?

As rival motion picture studios were becoming intoxicated on theatrical day-and-date releases tied to their streaming platforms during Covid, and big streamers like Netflix completely sidestepping wide theatrical releases, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav believed in the economics of the big picture.

Jennifer Aniston may be one of the most successful – and highest paid – actresses in Hollywood, but a huge part of her charm is that she doesn’t take herself too seriously. In fact, we get the impression that when it comes to choosing film roles, Jennifer’s main consideration isn’t whether or not it will win her an Oscar nomination, but how much fun she’ll have on set.

Following months of meetings, auditions and even several days of driving tests, Apple Studios, Joseph Kosinski and Jerry Bruckheimer look to have found their race car driver to steer their anticipated racing film set in the world of F1. Sources tell Deadline that Damson Idris has been tapped to co-star opposite Brad Pitt. Kosinski is directing.

Brent Lang Executive Editor “Snowfall” star Damson Idris will appear opposite Brad Pitt in a new Formula One racing film from “Top Gun: Maverick” director Joseph Kosinski. The untitled movie is being made by Apple Original Films and will be produced by Jerry Bruckheimer Films and Pitt’s Plan B Entertainment. Kosinski will produce the feature alongside seven-time Formula One champion Sir Lewis Hamilton under his Dawn Apollo Films banner, and Jerry Bruckheimer and Chad Oman of Jerry Bruckheimer Films. Ehren Kruger, who did similar honors on “Top Gun: Maverick,” is writing the screenplay.  The racing feature stars Pitt as a former driver who returns to the sport. Idris will play his teammate. Aside from that, engines will be revved, finish lines will be crossed, cars will collide… OK, we really have no idea what happens on or off the track. But since the movie is being made in cooperation with Formula One, the action sequences will likely be a standout.

Damson Idris (“Snowfall”) is set to star opposite Brad Pitt in his Untitled Formula One racing feature from Joseph Kosinski, Jerry Bruckheimer Films and Plan B Entertainment, Apple Original Films announced on Friday.Kosinski (“Top Gun: Maverick”) is set to direct, as well as produce.Academy Award-nominee Ehren Kruger (“Top Gun: Maverick”) wrote the script.The untitled Formula One racing feature stars Pitt as a former driver who returns to the sport. Damson Idris joins the film as his teammate.Hailing from Apple Studios, the film is produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and Chad Oman of Jerry Bruckheimer Films (“Top Gun: Maverick,” “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise), Joseph Kosinski (“Top Gun: Maverick”), Mercedes driver and seven-time Formula One champion Sir Lewis Hamilton his Dawn Apollo Films banner, and Plan B Entertainment (“World War Z”).

somewhat controversial “You People” earlier this year and in 2021 co-starred in Adam McKay’s Oscar-nominated disaster movie “Don’t Look Up.” He also recently announced that he wouldn’t be promoting his own movies anymore.Hill is also collaborating with Apple Original Films on an upcoming Grateful Dead biopic directed by Martin Scorsese and written by Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewsk, where Hill would play Jerry Garcia and produce the film with Dines. (It’s unclear whether this will be Scorsese’s next movie after “Killers of the Flower Moon,” starring Leonard DiCaprio and Robert DeNiro, also for Apple.)Reeves, of course, is enjoying the enormous success of “John Wick: Chapter 4.” He’ll appear as the character, at least one more time, in next year’s spinoff “Ballerina.” Apple Original Films have been on quite the roll lately; they won the Best Picture Oscar for “CODA,” have just released the terrific “Tetris,” and have some exciting projects coming this year (not just “Killers of the Floor Moon”), including Ridley Scott’s “Napoleon,” Michael J.

The Cannes Film Festival has confirmed that it will announce the Official Selection for its 76th edition on April 13 in Paris.

Mere days away from the release of “Beau is Afraid,” it appears that fans of Joaquin Phoenix have another 2023 film to get excited about, as Apple has announced the theatrical release date (yes, theatrical) for the upcoming Ridley Scott film, “Napoleon.” READ MORE: Ari Aster Is Developing A New Project With Joaquin Phoenix & Says His Next Film Will “Almost Certainly” Be A Western According to Variety, Apple is teaming up with Sony to release “Napoleon” in theaters on November 22, just in time for the annual Thanksgiving holiday rush that hits cinemas.

Apple Original Films has announced that Ridley Scott’s upcoming historical epic “Napoleon” will have an exclusive theatrical release partnership with Sony Pictures Entertainment on Wednesday, November 22, before streaming globally on Apple TV+. They haven’t announced a streaming date yet but we suspect it will be around Christmas.

Brent Lang Executive Editor “Napoleon” will charge into movie theaters just in time for awards season. The historical epic from Ridley Scott (no slouch when it comes to directing lavish looks at the past and explorations of the warrior way) will open in cinemas exclusively on Nov. 22 before streaming globally on Apple TV+ on an undetermined date. Sony Pictures will partner with Apple on the theatrical rollout. “Napoleon” stars Joaquin Phoenix as the French emperor and military leader. Phoenix previously teamed with Scott on 2000’s mega-hit “Gladiator,” so there’s a track record there. But this film won’t be all Waterloo, all the time. In addition to epic battles, “Napoleon” will also look at the visionary commander’s volatile relationship with his wife, Josephine, who is played by Vanessa Kirby. Apple also released a first look image (above) from the film featuring Phoenix on horseback, saber unsheathed.

Apple Original Films has partnered with Sony Pictures Entertainment and set a November 22 worldwide theatrical release launch for Napoleon, the historical action epic directed by Ridley Scott that stars Joaquin Phoenix as French conqueror Napoleon Bonaparte and Vanessa Kirby as Empress Josephine. After the theatrical run, the film will stream globally on Apple TV+.

Brad Pitt isn’t easily frightened.

“I never set out to play the hero, but since I’m usually cast as one I want to be the best paid hero.”

A Man Called Otto takes its place at Number 1 on the Official Film Chart.

Sports Illustrated Studios & 101 Studios has partnered with future Hall of Famer Stephen Curry and his Unanimous Media to produce a narrative film and a documentary about the All Star Café. The projects will be based on Jon Wertheim’s 2020 Sports Illustrated article.

Apple Original Films today laid out its release plans for Killers of the Flower Moon, the Martin Scorsese-directed adaptation of the David Grann book that pairs the helmer’s two favorite leading men, Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro.

After months of speculation, we now know when Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon” drama is coming to theaters. And we only have a little more than six months to wait.

Killers of the Flower Moon,” which will open in select cities on October 6 before expanding nationwide on Oct. 20 ahead of a release on Apple TV+.Paramount will be a distribution partner on the film, which stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Lily Gladstone and tells the story of the murders of multiple Osage people in Oklahoma in the 1920s after oil was discovered on tribal land.

EXCLUSIVE: Smokehouse Pictures partner George Clooney and Grant Heslov have signed an overall film deal with the Warner Bros. Pictures Group and its Co-Chairs and CEOs Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy. It amounts to a homecoming for the filmmakers, who named their company for the Smoke House steak joint right off the Warner Bros lot, where they used to eat all the time. Clooney’s history with the studio goes back to his breakthrough starring role in the Warner Bros Television drama ER. They made their first deal at Warner Bros when they formed Smokehouse in 2006.

While “Babylon” has been available on digital since January, those of us who still prefer physical copies of films will now have the opportunity to bring home Damien Chazelle’s wild, audacious, and Oscar-nominated period spectacle films starting this week.  “Babylon,” set in 1920s Los Angeles, is a story of ambition and excess in early Hollywood. The film will be released on 4K, Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K UHD SteelBook and will have forty minutes of unique features.