Moviefone Editorial

Tag: apple

  • Apple Officially Unveils its TV Service, Apple TV+

    Apple Officially Unveils its TV Service, Apple TV+

    Apple TV

    At a splashy event at its campus in Cupertino, California on Monday, Apple finally unveiled its standalone TV service, including the official name and several of the big projects it will house. Along with those answers, though, there remained some key questions.

    During the event, Apple CEO Tim Cook revealed that the service will be called Apple TV+, and it will launch sometime this fall (an exact debut date is TBA). The subscription service will be available to all — and is not exclusive to Apple devices — in more than 100 countries; it will be ad-free, and most of its content will be downloadable.

    No pricing structure has been revealed yet.

    Many major stars were on hand to introduce their projects for the service, including Steven Spielberg (who’s producing a revival anthology of “Amazing Stories”); Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Aniston, and Steve Carell (who are starring in a morning TV drama that now has an official title: “The Morning Show”); Jason Momoa and Alfre Woodard (starring in sci-fi series “See,” about a world in which sight no longer exists); and Kumail Nanjiani (“Little America,” which tells true stories of immigrants from across the world who move to the United States).

    Even Big Bird made an appearance, introducing “Helpsters,” from the makers of “Sesame Street,” which will teach preschoolers about coding skills. And J.J. Abrams and Sara Bareilles were on hand to tout “Little Voice” (Bareilles performed the titular theme song), a series about a young woman finding her voice through music.

    Apple saved the biggest surprise for last, bringing out Oprah to announce that she’s reviving her immensely popular Book Club as a new series for the service. She’s also filming two documentaries for Apple TV+, one about sexual assault and one about mental health.

    One of the biggest gaps in the presentation, however, was the lack of clips — or even key art — from any of the announced projects, aside from a quick sneak peek package that spliced together a few seconds from each series. Instead, Apple offered a slick video introducing the service, featuring talking heads from several of the above creators, as well as collaborators including Sofia Coppola, M. Night Shyamalan, Ron Howard, Octavia Spencer, Hailee Steinfeld, Damien Chazelle.

    Stay tuned for additional Apple TV+ details as Apple unveils them.

  • ‘Captain Marvel’s Brie Larson to Star in CIA Drama Series for Apple

    ‘Captain Marvel’s Brie Larson to Star in CIA Drama Series for Apple

    Marvel

    Captain Marvel is joining the CIA.

    Brie Larson is set to star in and produce an untitled CIA drama series for Apple. The Oscar winner is headlining this weekend’s big Marvel movie, the first to feature a solo female superhero lead.

    The project is based real-life CIA undercover operative Amaryrillis Fox’s upcoming memoir, which hits shelves October 15. It’s described as a “provocative and contemporary look at a young woman’s journey in the CIA, told through the prism of her closest relationships.”

    “Animal Kingdom” writer Megan Martin is in final talks to pen and executive produce the series, which will be produced by Michael Ellenberg’s studio Media Res (which is also behind Apple’s Reese Witherspoon/Jennifer Aniston morning show drama).

    The project returns Larson to her television roots. She previously appeared in Showtime’s “United States of Tara” before going on to win the Best Actress Oscar for “Room.”

  • ‘Fast and Furious’ Director Justin Lin Signs TV Deal With Apple

    ‘Fast and Furious’ Director Justin Lin Signs TV Deal With Apple

    Universal

    Apple has been snatching up hot projects for its upcoming streaming service left and right, and now, it’s secured the most prolific director of the “Fast and Furious” franchise.

    Justin Lin and his production company, Perfect Storm, have inked an exclusive overall TV contract with Apple, for which they will develop and produce new series. No projects have been announced just yet.

    Lin has made a name for himself producing and directing a slew of slick action flicks and TV series, including “Star Trek Beyond” and multiple CBS series like “S.W.A.T.,” “Scorpion,” and the new “Magnum P.I.” But the director is perhaps most famous for his work on the “Fast” series, of which he’s helmed four films so far, is currently prepping shooting “Fast and Furious 9,” and is rumored to also be directing the final film in the franchise, “Fast and Furious 10.”

    With such a successful track record, it would make sense for Apple to scoop him up, adding yet another titan of his genre to its fold. The burgeoning streaming service has already secured a bunch of A-list drama series, as well as fantasy, crime, comedy, horror, and Oprah (yes, she deserves her own category) shows, too.

    Stay tuned to see what Lin and co. (and Apple) are working on.

    [via: Variety]

  • Jennifer Garner and J.J. Abrams Reunite for Apple Limited Series

    Jennifer Garner and J.J. Abrams Reunite for Apple Limited Series

    HBO

    Yet another star-studded project is heading to Apple’s upcoming streaming service, and it features the reunion of one of our favorite TV pairings.

    Jennifer Garner is re-teaming with her “Alias” creator, J.J. Abrams, for a new limited series for Apple. Variety reports that the project is called “My Glory Was I Had Such Friends,” based on the 2017 memoir of the same name by Amy Silverstein, and “follows a group of women who supported Silverstein as she waited for a second life-saving heart transplant.”

    Garner is set to star, and Abrams will produce through his Bad Robot banner, in conjunction with Warner Bros. Television. Karen Croner (“Admission,” “One True Thing”) is writing and producing the adaptation, and previously adapted “The Tribes of Palos Verdes,” which also starred Garner. Silverstein will also serve as a producer.

    Though the circumstances surrounding the launch of Apple’s streaming service are still up in the air, that hasn’t stopped the tech giant from acquiring some top-tier talent. Other projects in the works include a morning show drama starring Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Aniston, and Steve Carell; a fantasy series featuring Jason Momoa; a Chris Evans crime drama; and new work from Damien Chazelle, M. Night Shyamalan, and the goddess of TV herself, Oprah.

    No word yet on when or how we’ll see all this content. Stay tuned.

    [via: Variety]

  • Rupert Grint Joins M. Night Shyamalan’s Apple Series

    Rupert Grint Joins M. Night Shyamalan’s Apple Series

    Crackle

    “Harry Potter” star Rupert Grint is entering M. Night Shyamalan’s twisty-turning world.

    The actor is joining the cast of Shyamalan’s upcoming psychological thriller series on Apple. He’ll appear opposite Lauren Ambrose (“Six Feet Under”) and Nell Tiger Free (“Game of Thrones”).

    Not much is known about the plot of the untitled series, but it reportedly follows parents Dorothy (Ambrose) and Sean Turner, who hire a young nanny named Leanne (Free) to help care for their newborn child. Grint will play Julian Pearce, Dorothy’s younger brother.

    The show was created by Tony Basgallop, who will write and executive produce. Shyamalan is also an executive producer and will direct the first episode.

    Grint currently stars in the Crackle drama “Snatch,” about a group of up-and-coming hustlers who stumble upon into the high-stakes world of organized crime. He also recently appeared in the BBC miniseries adaptation of Agatha Christie’s “The ABC Murders.”

  • Steve Carell Joins Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston’s Apple Morning Show Drama

    Steve Carell Joins Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston’s Apple Morning Show Drama

    Amazon Studios

    Apple’s upcoming drama series about the world of morning talk shows already had some major star power, thanks to A-list leading ladies Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston. And now,  another big name has just joined the ensemble.

    Steve Carell is set to co-star in the as-yet-untitled project, his first series regular role since departing NBC hit “The Office” back in 2011. Variety reports that Carell will be playing a character named Mitch Kessler, described as “a morning show anchor who is struggling to maintain relevance in a changing media landscape.”

    Aniston and Witherspoon’s roles haven’t been revealed yet, though it’s assumed that that they, too, will be playing fellow morning show anchors. The series is inspired in part by CNN media reporter Brian Stelter’s 2013 book, “Top of the Morning,” which chronicles the rivalry between long-running programs “Today” and “Good Morning America.”

    Just how and when Apple plans to deliver this series to viewers is anyone’s guess. It has yet to launch its own streaming service (though that seems the most likely outlet, since it’s been acquiring content left and right lately), and additional details about the endeavor are being kept tightly under wraps for now.

    What we do know is that the Aniston-Witherspoon-Carell series has already received a two-season pickup, with each season running for 10 episodes. We’ll be eagerly awaiting its TBD arrival.

    [via: Variety]

  • Chris Evans to Star in and Produce Apple Series ‘Defending Jacob’

    Chris Evans to Star in and Produce Apple Series ‘Defending Jacob’

    Avengers: Infinity War
    Marvel Studios

    Apple keeps signing cool people on to cool projects, but we still don’t know how we’ll actually be able to watch these projects.

    Chris Evans is the latest star to join an Apple limited series; according to Variety, “Defending Jacob” got a straight-to-series order at Apple, based on the 2012 novel about the father of a 14-year-old boy accused of murder.

    Mark Bomback will serve as showrunner, and Evans will both star in and help executive produce the series.

    Chris Evans does not do a lot of TV, and this will actually mark his first series regular role since the 2000 series “Opposite Sex” on Fox, co-starring Milo Ventimiglia.

    On the film side, you might’ve heard of “Avengers 4,” which Evans has coming out next May. He also filmed “The Red Sea Diving Resort,” which is expected to release at some point later this year. Plus, there’s the disaster thriller “Greenland.”

    Apple previously gave a straight-to-series order for a drama series from Damien Chazelle (“La La Land,” “First Man”). Apple also ordered a comedy starring Kristen Wiig, produced by Reese Witherspoon. And Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston will star in a morning show drama for Apple. Apple also has projects lined up with Steven Spielberg, Francis Lawrence, and more.

    But, like the upcoming Disney streaming service, it’s not clear when Apple will launch its content. It’s also not clear who can afford all of these individual services. Can someone at least package all the new streamers so we only have to pay one (keep it small) bill each month? Come on.

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  • Jason Momoa Is Returning to TV in Apple Drama ‘See’

    HBO

    Dearly departed “Game of Thrones” star Jason Momoa is rising again — this time on a new TV series.

    The actor has snagged the starring role on “See,” a drama being developed for Apple’s super-secretive new TV service. According to the show’s synopsis and Momoa’s character’s description, it certainly sounds like it will be familiar territory for the former Dothraki ruler (and current Aquaman).

    Here’s the breakdown, per The Hollywood Reporter:

    ‘See’ is described as an epic, world-building drama set in the future. Momoa will star in a lead role as Baba Voss, a fearless warrior, leader and guardian.

    We don’t know much else about the fantasy series, aside from the fact that it’s being written by Steven Knight (“Dirty Pretty Things,” “Peaky Blinders”), and directed by Francis Lawrence (who helmed the last three films in the “Hunger Games” series). Its first season will consist of eight episodes.

    Also unclear: Just how or when Apple plans to unveil all of the new content it’s developing. Stay tuned.

    [via: The Hollywood Reporter]

  • Kristen Wiig Had to Drop Out of Apple Series for ‘Wonder Woman 1984’

    When you’re an in-demand actor, you can’t always do everything. That’s the case for Kristen Wiig — the comedian had to pull out of Apple’s adaptation of “You Think It, I’ll Say It.”

    Wiig was attached to star in what would have been her first TV series since her “Saturday Night Live” days, but a conflict arose when she joined the upcoming “Wonder Woman 1984,” according to Deadline. The comedian is set to play the sequel’s villain, and the production schedule made her unavailable to star in and executive produce the Apple series. As a result, Wiig decided to exit the project, and the project is now on hold.

    Inspired by Curtis Sittenfeld’s short story collection published earlier this year, the series got a straight-to-series order in January. It is created by “30 Rock” vet Colleen McGuinness, who will serve as the showrunner. McGinness is also executive producing alongside Hello Sunshine’s Reese Witherspoon and Lauren Neustadter, while Sittenfeld joined as a consulting producer.

    The project will reportedly still happen without Wiig. Her role may simply be recast, per Deadline. In the meantime, we can at least look forward to seeing her stirring up trouble in “Wonder Woman 1984.”

    [via: Deadline]

  • Apple Signs Deal With Sesame Workshop to Create Kids Shows

    Apple is already muscling its way into the streaming television space in various genres, now including children’s programming.

    The tech giant has signed a deal with Sesame Workshop to create multiple live-action and animated series plus a puppet show. That does not include “Sesame Street,” which has a pact with HBO that runs through 2020.

    This deal expands Sesame Workshop’s relationship with Apple, which is already the home for eBooks, applications and video content.

    The streaming youth programming genre has exploded recently, with Netflix ramping up its offerings to challenge traditional players like Nickelodeon and the Disney Channel.

    Apple has aggressively been courting content producers in its push into original programming. The company landed a drama about morning show anchors starring Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston, as well as series from M. Night Shyamalan, Damien Chazelle, Ronald D. Moore. And last week, Apple signed Oprah Winfrey to a massive deal to create movies, TV shows, and books.