Director Jon Watts has revealed why a sequel to Wolfs, the Brad Pitt and George Clooney-led action-comedy, is no longer moving forward despite its success on Apple TV+. Released on the platform in September, Wolfs became Apple TV+’s most-viewed movie ever and received strong reviews for its sharp dialogue, thrilling plot, and dynamic performances from Pitt and Clooney as rival fixers forced to collaborate. While Apple had announced plans for a sequel ahead of the film’s release, Watts has now disclosed that he personally declined to pursue the project due to creative differences with the studio.
In an interview with Deadline, Watts shared that the decision stemmed from Apple’s last-minute pivot to release Wolfs on streaming rather than in theaters, as originally planned. The move was made without his input, leaving the director feeling blindsided. “I wasn’t even told about it until less than a week before they announced it to the world,” Watts explained. “I asked them to not include the news about me writing a sequel, but they ignored my request and announced it anyway.” Disillusioned with Apple as a creative partner, Watts returned the money he had received for the sequel and opted not to proceed. “I loved working with Brad and George and would happily do it again,” he added, “but I no longer trusted Apple as a collaborator.”
Watts’ decision not to pursue Wolfs 2 raises questions about Apple’s relationships with filmmakers, particularly after the company had gained goodwill for supporting theatrical releases like Killers of the Flower Moon and Napoleon. While these films didn’t achieve massive box office success, their theatrical debuts established Apple as a filmmaker-friendly studio. However, the abrupt change in Wolfs’ release strategy may tarnish that reputation, potentially making creatives wary of partnering with the streaming service. For now, fans of Pitt and Clooney’s long history of on-screen collaborations, from Ocean’s Eleven to Burn After Reading, will have to appreciate Wolfs as a standalone entry in their shared filmography.