Following an intense bidding war against multiple major competitors including Netflix, Amazon, Sony Pictures, and Warner Bros. Pictures, Deadline brings word that Apple Studios has successfully won the rights to Spider-Man: Homecoming director Jon Watts’ high-profile project. The deal also reportedly includes a theatrical release component. The untitled thriller film is set to reunite Oscar winners George Clooney and Brad Pitt after 13 years since The Coen Brothers’ 2008 black comedy crime pic Burn After Reading.
The project will be part of the streamer’s growing list of upcoming star-studded films which includes: Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon starring Leonardo DiCaprio; Antoine Fuqua’s Emancipation starring Will Smith; the musical comedy Spirited starring Will Ferrell & Ryan Reynolds; and Raymond and Ray starring Ewan McGregor & Ethan Hawke.
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Further details about the untitled film’s plot and characters are still being kept under wraps, but it’s being described as a thriller centered around two lone wolf fixers, who wind up getting assigned to the same job.
The project will be written, directed, and produced by Jon Watts. This marks the filmmaker’s first non-Marvel project in a long while after only working on the Tom Holland-led Spider-Man films for the last six years. In addition to the untitled thriller, Watts is also currently working on two other major projects including Spider-Man: No Way Home which is set to debut this December, and Marvel Studios’ long-awaited Fantastic Four reboot.
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The thriller pic will be produced by Clooney through his Smokehouse Pictures banner, and Pitt through his Plan B Entertainment. The outlet notes that the potential acquisition deal might result in an eight-figure range payday for both A-listers.
Clooney and Pitt’s incredible chemistry was first seen in the blockbuster Ocean’s 11 films, where they portrayed the roles of heist masterminds Danny Ocean, and Rusty Ryan, respectively. Steven Soderbergh’s heist comedy trilogy had earned a combined gross of over $1 billion at the worldwide box office.
