World War II film Greyhound has been acquired by Apple TV+ for a streaming premiere.
Directed by Aaron Schneider (Get Low) based off a screenplay written by Hanks, the title was planned to hit theaters in June through Sony Pictures. It now becomes Hanks’ first movie to get a streaming premiere and Apple TV+’s biggest cinematic get so far.
Greyhound stars Hanks as Ernest Krause, a first-time captain who leads allied ships across the “Black Pit” to the front lines of WWII, dodging Nazi U-boats along the way. Elisabeth Shue, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Stephen Graham, and Rob Morgan costar.
Hanks was already developing Master of the Air, a WWII-set miniseries, with Spielberg for Apple TV+ before the news of Greyhound’s streaming move came to light. The entire industry continues to shift — at times, by the day — as its post-coronavirus future remains murky. Productions halted and movie theaters worldwide largely shuttered in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Studios have had to shift theatrical releases to much later in the year.
Chris Nolan’s Tenet and Niki Caro’s live-action Mulan remain on schedule for July.
Other films, including Artemis Fowl and the filmed version of Hamilton, canceled their theatrical plans to hit streaming or VOD platforms.