Jon Watts Says He Canceled 'Wolfs' Sequel Because He 'No Longer Trusted' Apple
Director Jon Watts has revealed he personally canceled plans for a sequel to the hit Apple TV+ film "Wolfs," starring George Clooney and Brad Pitt, citing a breakdown of trust with the streaming platform.
In an exclusive statement to Deadline, Watts explained that Apple's last-minute decision to shift from a wide theatrical release to a limited run followed by streaming was made without his knowledge or input. The director said he learned about the change less than a week before it was publicly announced.
"They were extremely enthusiastic about it and immediately commissioned me to start writing a sequel," Watts stated. "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."
The film became Apple TV+'s most-watched feature film to date. However, the platform's decision to limit theatrical distribution came after another of their releases, "Fly Me To The Moon," underperformed at the box office.
When Apple announced the streaming pivot, they simultaneously revealed plans for a sequel - against Watts' explicit request not to include that information. In response, the director quietly returned the money he had received for the sequel project.
"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," Watts explained. While expressing his enthusiasm for working with the cast again, including Clooney and Pitt, he emphasized that the decision to cancel the sequel was his own.
While Apple sources maintain that "Wolfs" was a success and remain open to a sequel, Watts' experience echoes similar situations in the industry where streaming platforms have altered release strategies without consulting key creative partners.
The director, known for his work on the Spider-Man franchise, maintains he would gladly work with the cast again under different circumstances, but could not continue his relationship with Apple after the incident damaged their creative partnership.
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