The pairing of Brad Pitt and George Clooney once guaranteed box office gold. However, the magic touch seems to have faded. Variety’s recent reporting confirms the disappointing news: three months after director Jon Watts signed a deal with Apple to develop a sequel to their critically-received film, *Wolves*, the project is officially dead.
This confirmation came directly from Watts himself during a recent interview with Collider. When questioned about his next project, Watts bluntly stated, “I don’t know what I’m directing next, and I don’t think there’s going to be a *Wolves* sequel.” This announcement effectively shuts down months of speculation and dashed hopes for a follow-up to the star-studded thriller.
The film’s journey to this point has been marked by unusual twists. Initially slated for a wide theatrical release, Apple dramatically altered its distribution strategy in August. Instead of a broad cinematic rollout, *Wolves* received a limited one-week theatrical run before its debut on Apple TV+ on September 27th. This decision raised eyebrows, especially considering Clooney’s previous statement that he and Pitt had personally contributed funds to ensure a traditional theatrical release. The shift to a more limited release was initially coupled with the announcement of a sequel, adding to the surprise of this recent cancellation.
*Wolves*, which portrays Pitt and Clooney as criminal fixers whose paths intertwine, initially boasted impressive viewing figures on Apple’s streaming platform. Apple proudly proclaimed it the most-watched feature in the platform’s history. Despite this apparent success, however, the film’s performance ultimately fell short of the threshold required to justify a sequel, prompting Apple to pull the plug on the project. The financial implications, coupled with the perceived success of the initial release, make this cancellation all the more intriguing and underscores the evolving dynamics of Hollywood and streaming platforms in today’s entertainment landscape. This development leaves fans questioning the future collaborations between the two A-list stars and raises questions about the viability of streaming-first releases in terms of long-term franchise potential.
