Wolfsdirector Jon Watts candidly explains why he won’t be makingWolfs 2despite the first film’s streaming success. Hitting Apple TV+ in September,Wolfsfollows two lone wolf fixers played by Brad Pitt and George Clooney as they are reluctantly forced to work together on a job. Though originally slated for a theatrical release, it was announced last-minute that the film would instead bow on Apple TV+, with the sequel confirmation accompanying this announcement. Despite positiveWolfsreviewsand the title becoming Apple TV+’s most-viewed movie ever, Watts recently cast doubt on the sequel happening.
During a recent interview withDeadline, Watts now offers more details about whyWolfs 2isn’t happening, explaining that he’s responsible for the sequel not moving forward.The director reveals that a fracturing of the relationship between him and Apple is ultimately why the follow-up isn’t happening, and this stems from Apple’s decision to scrapWolfs’theatrical rollout without Watts' input or knowledge. Check out Watts' comment below:
I showed Apple my final cut ofWolfsearly this year. They were extremely enthusiastic about it and immediately commissioned me to start writing a sequel. But their last minute shift from a promised wide theatrical release to a streaming release was a total surprise and made without any explanation or discussion.
I wasn’t even told about it until less than a week before they announced it to the world. I was completely shocked and asked them to please not include the news that I was writing a sequel. They ignored my request and announced it in their press release anyway, seemingly to create a positive spin to their streaming pivot. And so I quietly returned the money they gave me for the sequel.
I didn’t want to talk about it because I was proud of the film and didn’t want to generate any unnecessary negative press. I loved working with Brad and George (and Amy and Austin and Poorna and Zlatko) and would happily do it again. But the truth is that Apple didn’t cancel theWolfssequel, I did, becauseI no longer trusted them as a creative partner.
What The Wolfs' Situation Means For Apple’s Reputation With Filmmakers
Watts' Comments Could Hurt Apple’s Position In The Streaming Landscape
Compared to Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, and Max, Apple TV+ is a relatively small streaming service. What it has going for it is Apple’s deep pockets and willingness to give filmmakers large budgets to make their passion projects. What’s especially important, however, is Apple’s willingness to give these projects theatrical releases. Though Netflix also has a history of funding these types of movies, Netflix has taken a fairly anti-theatrical approach to its releases.
25 Best Movies On Apple TV+ Right Now (April 2025)
The best movies on Apple TV+ range from documentaries about celebrated performers to musical comedies and incredibly deep original dramas.
Martin Scorsese got to make the $200 millionKillers of the Flower Moon(2023), while Ridley Scott madeNapoleon(2023) at a similar budget level, and both got theatrical releases. Neither film was a commercial success, but the fact that they got theatrical releases was evidently enough to endear Apple as an enticing creative partner.Apple scrappingWolfs' theatrical release at the last minute is a major blow to what the streamer had going for it, and it could make filmmakers less willing to work with them in the future.
It’s interesting to note that this is something that Netflix is now also experiencing as more filmmakers take firm stances on the importance of theatrical. Netflix reportedly bid a staggering $150 million to purchase director Emerald Fennell’sWuthering Heightsadaptation, for example, but producersGreta Gerwig and Margot Robbie took the project to Warner Bros.instead, despite an offer half that size, due to the promise of a theatrical release.
Fennell’sWuthering Heightswill star Robbie and Jacob Elordi.
Our Take On Watts Cancelling Wolfs 2
It’s Not Surprising That Watts Didn’t Want To Work With Apple Again
Watts' latest comment aboutWolfs 2isn’t a good look for Apple. Though releasing a movie straight-to-streaming is one thing, it’s something else entirely to scrap a theatrical release at the last minute without the filmmaker’s input or knowledge.
TheWolfsendingpaves the way for more adventures with Clooney and Pitt’s characters, and it’s a shame that a sequel now won’t be happening. Clooney and Pitt, after all, have great chemistry. Though Apple may try to lure Watts back with the promise of a theatrical release for the sequel,it seems that the bridge has now been burnedand that Watts wouldn’t be able to take their word for it even if they did.
Wolfs
Cast
Wolfs is an action-thriller film written and directed by Jon Watts, and sees the on-screen reunion of Brad Pitt and George Clooney after nearly fifteen years. The film centers on two fixers who are brought together when they’re both hired for the same job.
