Oprah Winfrey buys back rights to Apple documentary, halting its release

Oprah Winfrey buys back the rights to her documentary from Apple TV+ after creative differences with the director.

Oprah Winfrey has reportedly purchased the rights to her biographical documentary from Apple TV+, halting its release. The media mogul initially signed a deal with Apple in 2018, and the documentary was set to be directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Kevin Macdonald. According to Page Six, Winfrey was dissatisfied with the final product and decided to buy back the rights. A source revealed, "Kevin made the film, but Oprah didn’t like it and he refused to change it, so she paid back her fee to Apple."

Winfrey’s spokesperson confirmed that the project has been shelved, stating, “As the Apple TV+ deal was coming to an end, Ms. Winfrey bought back the rights to her docuseries and has since decided to put the doc on hold.” The documentary, which was announced with much fanfare in 2021, now remains in limbo as Winfrey feels “it wasn’t the right time” for the release.

This move follows a history of halted projects for Winfrey, including the 2020 documentary On the Record, which was dropped just weeks before its Sundance premiere.