Apple celebrated its line-up of original films at Tuesday's special media event, highlighting recent awards recognition for 'Swan Song,' ‘CODA’ and ‘The Tragedy of Macbeth’ before previewing a slate of new feature films joining Apple TV+ and select theatres through 2022 and beyond.
Spearheaded by head of features, Matt Dentler, Apple Original Films have earned over 213 wins and 950 nominations, having recently received recognition from the Academy Awards, SAG Awards, Critics Choice Awards, Critics Choice Documentary Awards, NAACP Image Awards, as well as past Daytime and Primetime Emmy Awards, and more.
Here is a roundup of all of the Apple Original Films confirmed to contribute to a growing library of curated titles later this year, along with first-look images for several titles:
Cha Cha Real Smooth
Comedy-Drama | June 17th
The winner of the 2022 Sundance Film Festival U.S. Dramatic Audience Award will dance its way to TV+ this summer. Cooper Raiff's sophomore film was acquired by Apple at the festival and tells the story of a recent college graduate named Andrew (Cooper Raiff). Andrew works as a Bar Mitzvah party host and forms a unique friendship with a young mother Domino (Dakota Johnson) and her autistic teenage daughter Lola (Vanessa Burghardt). The film was also written, directed and produced by Raiff and also stars Leslie Mann, Evan Assante, Raúl Castillo and Odeya Rush.
Luck
Animation | August 5th
This new animated feature from Skydance Animation tells the story of Sam Greenfield, the unluckiest person in the world who discovers the mysterious Land of Luck. Sam must team up with the magical creatures there in an attempt to turn her luck around. 'Luck' features a star-studded cast of voice actors including Eva Noblezada, Simon Pegg, Flula Borg, Lil Rel Howery, Colin O’Donoghue, John Ratzenberger, Adelynn Spoon, Whoopi Goldberg and two-time Academy Award winner Jane Fonda.
Raymond & Ray
Drama | Fall 2022
The upcoming film follows half-brothers Raymond (played by Ewan McGregor) and Ray (played by Ethan Hawke) who have lived in the shadow of a terrible father. Somehow, they still each have a sense of humour, and his funeral is a chance for them to reinvent themselves.
The Greatest Beer Run Ever
Comedy-Drama | Fall 2022
Based on the bestselling book, 'The Greatest Beer Run Ever' stars Zac Efron and Russell Crowe and is based on the true story of John 'Chickie' Donohue. In 1968, Donohue left New York to track down and share a few beers with his childhood buddies now in the Army – fighting in Vietnam
The Sound of 007
Documentary | Fall 2022
This year marks 60 years of James Bond and this upcoming documentary will explore the iconic music from the film series.
Black & Blues: The Colorful Ballad of Louis Armstrong
Documentary | Fall 2022
The upcoming documentary will provide a definitive look at the master musician’s life and legacy as a founding father of jazz.
Spirited
Comedy-Musical | Holiday 2022
Starring Ryan Reynolds, Will Ferrell and Octavia Spencer, 'Spirited' is a modern musical rendition of Charles Dickens’ classic holiday story 'A Christmas Carol' and should make for perfect festive viewing later this year.
Emancipation
Drama | 2022
Antoine Fuqua and Will Smith’s highly anticipated new film tells the triumphant story of a man who escapes from slavery and will arrive on TV+ before the end of the year. Apple's purchased the rights to 'Emancipation' in 2020 in what has been called the largest festival acquisition deal in film history.
Argylle
Action | 2023
Featuring a star-studded ensemble cast including Henry Cavill, Bryce Dallas Howard, Sam Rockwell, Bryan Cranston, Catherine O’Hara, Dua Lipa, Ariana DeBose, John Cena and Samuel L. Jackson, the film follows the globe-trotting adventures of a super-spy named Argylle across the U.S., London and other exotic locations. The blockbuster is adapted from Ellie Conway's upcoming novel, due to be released later this year.
Killers of The Flower Moon
Drama | TBC 2023
The highly anticipated new film from Martin Scorsese stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Lily Gladstone, Jesse Plemons, John Lithgow and more. The film follows the serial murder of members of the oil-wealthy Osage Nation - a string of brutal crimes that came to be known as the Reign of Terror.
Sharper
Thriller | TBA
This New York City-set suspense-thriller stars Julianne Moore, Sebastian Stan, Justice Smith, Briana Middleton and John Lithgow. The film follows a con artist, played by Moore, set in the world of Manhattan’s billionaire echelon.
Tetris
Drama | TBA
Starring Taron Egerton, 'Tetris' chronicles the extraordinary journey of one of the most iconic computer games in the world. The film tells the story of computer programmer Alexey Pajitnov and Dutch-born video game entrepreneur Henk Rogers (Egerton) who secured the global rights to distribute Tetris on video game consoles.
In addition to the above titles, Apple also detailed further Original Films currently in development. From yesterdays accompanying press release:
Additional eagerly awaited Apple Original Films set to debut this summer include a documentary executive produced by Oprah Winfrey and directed by Reginald Hudlin about the career and life of the late Sidney Poitier
As the Apple Original Films banner continues to expand, audiences can look forward to films from today’s most prolific storytellers, such as Ridley Scott’s “Napoleon,” starring Joaquin Phoenix as the French military leader and emperor alongside Vanessa Kirby as Josephine; a pair of complementary documentaries entitled “Number One on the Call Sheet,” celebrating Black leading women and men in Hollywood; “Ghosted,” a high concept romantic action adventure film starring Chris Evans and Ana de Armas; Skydance Animation’s “Spellbound,” which follows a young girl who sets out to break the spell that has divided her kingdom in two; and “The Beanie Bubble,” inspired by the story behind one of the biggest speculative crazes that blazed through American culture in the ‘90s and starring Elizabeth Banks, Zach Galifianakis, Sarah Snook and Geraldine Viswanathan.
Apple Original Films is also currently in development on highly sought-after projects including Adam McKay’s “Bad Blood,” about the rise and fall of Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes, with Jennifer Lawrence producing and starring as Holmes; the genre-bending film “Bride,” produced by and starring Scarlett Johansson; “Snow Blind” with Jake Gyllenhaal attached to star; a new Sue Mengers biopic starring Academy Award winner Jennifer Lawrence; “Dolly,” a new feature film written by Academy Award nominee Vanessa Taylor and Drew Pearce with Academy Award nominee Florence Pugh attached to star; an adaption of Judy Heumann’s bestselling memoir Being Heumann from Siân Heder; an Audrey Hepburn biopic; and a thriller with George Clooney and Brad Pitt, written and directed by Jon Watts, about two lone fixers who are assigned to the same job.
There's certainly a lot to look forward to from Apple Original Films over the next year and everything announced above doesn't even take into account the growing library of new and returning original series coming to the service. Apple's library of Original Films continues to go from strength to strength and to date, their slate of series and films have earned 213 wins and 950 nominations, which you can keep up to date with via our Awards Guide.
'Cha Cha Real Smooth,' 'Luck,' 'Raymond and Ray' and 'Spirited' can now be pre-added to your Up Next queue ahead of their anticipated premieres.
You can keep up to date with all of the latest news on each of the Original Films detailed along with in-depth reviews right here on Screen Times.