Brad Pitt and George Clooney Were Paid $35 Million Each for Wolfs

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Brad Pitt and George Clooney Were Paid $35 Million Each for Wolfs

As someone who has spent years observing the ebb and flow of Hollywood, I must admit that I find it both fascinating and slightly amusing to see the massive paydays given to Brad Pitt and George Clooney for their roles in Apple’s upcoming film, Wolfs. While the practice of offering large salaries to stars is not unheard of, the sheer amount they are reportedly earning seems almost reminiscent of a bygone era when movie stars truly ruled the world.

It’s customary to offer large sums of money to movie stars for their appearances, but this practice has decreased somewhat due to the fact that being a “movie star” isn’t as influential as it once was in ensuring strong box office sales. As a result, many actors have had to find alternative ways to earn income from films, such as taking on producer roles or negotiating deals for a share of a project’s box office receipts. This is why the news about the salaries given to Brad Pitt and George Clooney for their work in the Apple film Wolves comes as quite a shock. The amount they were paid is astronomical, and it’s even more puzzling considering that Apple changed the release plan of the movie from a full theater run to a seven-day limited engagement before it becomes available on their streaming platform.

Based on The New York Times report, Brad Pitt and George Clooney each received $35 million to star in the upcoming action comedy “Wolfs,” directed by Jon Watts. Alongside their paychecks, Watts also earned a substantial sum of $15 million for his role in the production. This brings the total talent cost to an impressive $85 million, without considering other film expenses. What raises some eyebrows financially is that “Wolfs” was initially planned for exclusive theater screenings before moving to Apple TV+, but this changed after a sequel featuring Pitt and Clooney was announced. Subsequently, it was disclosed that the movie would have a brief one-week theatrical release followed by its premiere on Apple TV+ on September 27.

Apple Is Beginning to Change Its Release Strategy With Wolfs

Brad Pitt and George Clooney Were Paid $35 Million Each for WolfsBrad Pitt and George Clooney Were Paid $35 Million Each for WolfsBrad Pitt and George Clooney Were Paid $35 Million Each for WolfsBrad Pitt and George Clooney Were Paid $35 Million Each for Wolfs

In light of several costly movies underperforming at the box office, Apple is reportedly considering adjustments to its film release strategies. For instance, the spy action comedy “Argylle,” directed by Matthew Vaughn, brought in only $96.2 million globally against a production budget of $200 million. Similarly, “Fly Me to the Moon,” starring Channing Tatum and Scarlett Johansson, managed just $41.3 million worldwide on a budget of $100 million. The recent releases of “Killers of the Flower Moon” ($157 million worldwide with a budget exceeding $200 million) and “Napoleon” ($200 million budget, $221 million worldwide), which came out last year, raised questions about Apple’s financial concerns given the films’ earnings falling short of their production costs. However, it’s important to note that Apple’s financial situation may differ from a traditional studio, as these projects can help promote other products like iPhones and MacBooks. Despite the positive reviews for investing in films and providing them with a theatrical release, even a financially powerful company like Apple might eventually find itself losing money, which is not ideal.

The movie “Wolfs” seems reminiscent of an era dominated by Hollywood’s elite stars. It was apparently penned with Brad Pitt and George Clooney in mind, and their salaries suggest they still possess the drawing power at the box office from their “Ocean’s” days. These two exceptional actors boast Academy Awards and impressive resumes, but their names alone no longer guarantee ticket sales as they once did. Regarding Watts, having directed three profitable Spider-Man movies for the MCU contributes to his $15 million fee.

As a devoted fan, I’m thrilled about Apple’s latest partnership with Brad Pitt for the upcoming sports action film, “F1,” directed by Joseph Kosinski. The film’s budget has been quite the talk, with rumors suggesting it could reach as high as $300 million, though the producers have clarified that this figure is inflated. Apple secured the distribution rights at approximately $130-140 million and, for now, plans to release the movie in cinemas through Warner Bros. It seems the film will indeed stick to its theatrical release, but it’s evident that Apple is reassessing its strategies after investing heavily in products without achieving the anticipated box office success.

Wolfs
begins a one-week limited theatrical run on Sep. 20 and then hits Apple TV+ on Sep. 27.

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2024-08-26 23:33