In early 2020, Apple scored a significant movie coup when it snagged the rights to Greyhound, the primary movie famous person Tom Hanks had ever launched on to a streaming service. Now, Hanks is teaming up with Apple for a sequel.
The worldwide well being pandemic performed a major function in Greyhound touchdown on Apple TV+; Sony Photos initially deliberate to debut the movie in theatres in early Might however was compelled to push that again to mid-June within the face of lockdowns and social distancing. When it realized that theatres wouldn’t be reopening anytime quickly — a minimum of to not full-capacity crowds — it started quietly purchasing the movie round to discover a streaming service.
Apple beat out Netflix and different rivals, paying near $70 million to amass the movie in what was reportedly a heated bidding struggle. Hanks additionally needed to personally approve the deal earlier than it closed, which can have swung issues Apple’s manner since he was already working with Apple Studios on Masters of the Air alongside Steven Spielberg.
Greyhound debuted on Apple TV+ on July 10, 2020, and whereas the pandemic undoubtedly helped bolster viewership, the opening weekend viewers rivaled that of a summer time blockbuster. What started as an unsure experiment — Hanks was stated to be “testing the waters” with its launch — turned out to be an unqualified success.
Hanks was clearly bought, as he returned to Apple TV+ in 2021 in Finch, and now Deadline reviews that he’s getting ready a sequel to Greyhound that’s slated to start filming subsequent yr.
The 2020 Greyhound was written by Tom Hanks, who additionally starred within the main function as George Krause, a profession officer who’s lastly given command of a Navy destroyer through the well-known Battle of the Atlantic. He’s tasked with main a convoy behind stalked by a wolf pack of German submarines. Within the course of, Krause fights not solely with the enemy forces but additionally struggles along with his personal self-doubts to show himself worthy of the duty he’s been given.
Tom Hanks stars as a longtime Navy veteran who, as a first-time captain, is tasked with defending a convoy of 37 ships carrying 1000’s of troopers and much-needed provides throughout the treacherous waters of the Atlantic throughout World Struggle II. For 5 days with no air cowl, the captain and his small power of three escort ships should make their manner by means of an space of the ocean often called “the Black Pit,” battling Nazi U-boats whereas defending their invaluable ships and troopers. “Greyhound” is impressed by occasions through the Battle of the Atlantic, which befell within the earliest months of America’s alliance with Nice Britain and the Allied Forces.
Whereas the Battle of the Atlantic started in 1939, the US solely began actively collaborating in September 1941, helping with escorting British and Canadian convoys three months earlier than it formally entered World Struggle II in December. Greyhound is about in February 1942, within the early levels of America’s involvement with the Allied Forces.
Within the new movie, additionally written by Hanks, the Oscar-winning actor will reprise his function as Captain Krause, nonetheless commanding the Greyhound because the crew travels “from the seashores of Normandy to the ocean within the Pacific as they assist flip the tide of the struggle.”
Though little else is understood in regards to the story at this stage, the references recommend a 1944 timeline to align with key occasions of World Struggle II. The Battle of Normandy (“Operation Overlord”) occurred on June 6, 1944, commemorated as D-Day, whereas the Battle of the Philippine Sea (“The Nice Marianas Turkey Shoot”) occurred on June 19–20, 1944.
It’s unlikely a WWII destroyer would have the ability to make that journey in two weeks when factoring in climate, fuelling stops, and upkeep. It’s not technically unattainable, and the film could use inventive license to make sure Captain Krause and his crew can get to the Philippines in time. Nevertheless, the subsequent main Pacific WWII engagement, the Battle of Leyte Gulf, looks as if it could be extra applicable, because it’s not solely thought of by many to be the biggest naval battle in historical past but additionally had much more involvement by conventional warships like destroyers and never simply carriers and aerial forces.
Director Aaron Schneider and producer Gary Goeztman are returning for the sequel, Deadline says, and talks are nonetheless in progress with key solid members from the primary film, together with Stephen Graham, Rob Morgan, and Elisabeth Shue.
Filming is anticipated to start in January 2026 in Sydney, Australia. There’s no phrase on when or the way it will debut, but it surely’s more likely to get a giant theatrical launch, following Brad Pitt’s F1 on Apple’s listing of summer time blockbuster movies.