Brad Pitt and George Clooney reportedly paid $35 million each for Apple's 'Wolfs'

Brad Pitt and George Clooney were reportedly paid $35 million each to star in the upcoming Apple action comedy film Wolfs, written and directed by Jon Watts. According to The New York Times, the substantial paychecks for Pitt and Clooney, along with a $15 million fee for Watts, bring the total spent on talent to $85 million. This figure does not account for the rest of the film's budget, raising questions about the financial rationale behind such a large investment.

Wolfs was initially intended for a traditional theatrical release but has since shifted to a limited one-week run in theaters, starting September 20, before debuting on Apple TV+ on September 27. This change came after a sequel was announced, featuring Pitt and Clooney once again.

Apple's decision to alter Wolfs' release strategy reflects broader changes within the company, following a series of high-budget films that failed to deliver at the box office. For instance, Matthew Vaughn's Argylle grossed only $96.2 million globally against a $200 million budget, while Fly Me to the Moon, starring Channing Tatum and Scarlett Johansson, earned just $41.3 million worldwide on a $100 million budget.

Despite these disappointing figures, Apple has reportedly remained committed to funding ambitious projects. However, there are signs that the company is reassessing its approach, particularly after the underperformance of films like Killers of the Flower Moon and Napoleon last year.

Wolfs is part of a broader trend of films that, while offering significant star power, may not generate the box office returns that once defined the "movie star" era.