Apple signs exclusive agreement with Tom Hanks production company: sequel to Greyhound is underway

Apple aims to build on the success of TV +, by associating Tom Hanks’ production company with an exclusive multi-year deal. The Playtone agreement covers serials, documentaries, and screenwriting projects.

Hanks is set to star in a sequel to World War II Greyhound. The thriller was one of the most watched projects on Apple TV +, according to Deadline. Apple obtained the rights to distribute the film in 2020. Greyhound was supposed to be released in theaters, but the COVID-19 pandemic prevented its release in theaters.

What Apple is preparing for us in terms of movies and series

A similar situation was with Finch, a post-apocalyptic survival film in which Hanks’ character is accompanied on the road by his dog and an auxiliary robot. The film was released on Apple TV + in November. In general, SFs don’t make you shed a tear. Even if it’s about robots or the end of the world, they can’t be as exciting as a love movie or a drama. Especially from a post-apocalyptic SF you expect scenes of violence, zombies and so on. But SF Finch manages to touch you. You may think that a trio of a man, a dog and a robot would not excite you, but you have to watch the movie to realize how well this part is exploited.

Apple has a working relationship with Playtone, which was founded by Hanks and producer Gary Goetzman for several years. It was announced in 2019 that the two companies and Amblin Television from Steven Spielberg are working on Masters of the Air, a series that follows Band of Brothers and The Pacific. The production of the show has ended, but no release date has been announced.

Adding more Playtone shows and movies to your library will strengthen Apple TV +, which is doing a great job. It just became the first streaming service to win an Oscar for Best Picture (for CODA), while sitcom Ted Lasso enjoyed huge success at last year’s Emmy. Recent shows, such as Severance and Slow Horses, have also won acclaim.