When Apple first announced Apple TV+ and its initial offering, there was some excitement... but most were cautious for one main reason: there just wasn't enough content to justify a subscription.
It wasn't long before Apple realized their mistake and began investing larger amounts of money into their service. Popular existing shows are getting renewed, and important directors are being enticed by Apple's allowance for creative freedom.
As a result, we can expect all kinds of high-quality movies and TV series to hit Apple TV+ in the next year or two. Here are the most exciting upcoming movies and TV series on Apple TV+.
1. The Tragedy of Macbeth (Movie)
Ah, Shakespeare's famous Scottish play. Do we really need another adaptation of it for the big screen? Well, when you see who's doing this one, the answer has to be a resounding YES!
The man himself, Denzel Washington, will be playing the titular character of Lord Macbeth alongside legendary actress Frances McDormand as Lady Macbeth. And if that wasn't enough, the film will be directed by Joel Coen of the Coen brothers, marking the first film he'll ever make without Ethan Coen's involvement.
The whole film is shot in Los Angeles and will be shown in black and white, so it's going to be interesting to see what they've come up with so far away from the Highlands of Scotland. But with a cast and crew like this, The Tragedy of Macbeth is bound to be a hit.
2. Finch (Movie)
Like Greyhound, Finch is one of Tom Hanks' projects that wasn't specifically made for Apple TV+ but ended up on it anyway.
Finch tells the story of an old inventor who's one of the last people on Earth. Alone, he builds a robot to go across the country with him. It all sounds very ambitious yet very Hanks-like at the same time—Hanks will star in the leading role.
The film was actually supposed to hit movie theaters in 2020, but due to the global crisis, Apple bought the film and intends to release it sometime around awards season later in 2021.
3. Killers of the Flower Moon (Movie)
Killers of the Flower Moon is Apple's big entry into serious filmmaking. Not only have they landed Martin Scorsese as director and given him a budget of over $200 million, but it's a film that unites the "Scorsese three": Martin Scorsese, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Robert DeNiro.
That's right. All three will finally be brought together again under one film in in Killers of the Flower Moon. With Scorsese being one of the greatest living directors, the trio is sure to put out an amazing film.
The story will take place in the 1920s, revolving around the murders of several Native Americans who eventually caught the attention of the FBI and their divisive leader, J. Edgar Hoover.
The film will release sometime in 2022 and have a theatrical run before coming to Apple TV+.
4. Masters of the Air (Series)
To this day, people still rave about the 2001 acclaimed HBO series Band of Brothers and its 2010 follow-up The Pacific. Both were produced by Hollywood legends Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg.
Well, the duo is back for another WW2 anthology, and this time they're teaming up with Cary Joji Fukunaga who's renowned for directing No Time to Die and the first season of True Detective.
But this time, it's Apple—not HBO—who's supplying the cash for production. The tech giant has reportedly handed over a budget of $250 million for the nine-episode run, making Masters of the Air one of the most expensive TV series ever made.
The series is based on Donald L. Miller's book and will follow the story of the Allied bombing campaign against Nazi Germany.
5. The Problem: With Jon Stewart (Series)
Jon Stewart is a bonafide legend of American television. His tenure as host of The Daily Show is what made that series a staple of modern US comedy, and helped out then-unknowns like John Oliver.
Now, Jon Stewart is returning to the late-night satire game with a new show on Apple TV+. According to Apple, there will be multiple seasons of the show and each episode will be around an hour in length—which means that there's a lot to look forward to.
To top it all off, the series will also have its own dedicated podcast.
6. Time Bandits (Series)
If there's one thing the film industry can agree on, it's that Taika Waititi is white-hot right now.
So, with him co-writing and directing the pilot episode of the series adaptation of Terry Gilliam's classic movie, it looks like Apple has already picked up a winner. Not much more is known about the project yet, other than that Gilliam is involved in a producing capacity.
But the fact that it's coming to Apple TV+? That's exciting enough.
7. The Shrink Next Door (Series)
Will Ferrell and Paul Rudd have signed up to star alongside the mighty Katheryn Hahn in this series about a therapist who "tries to implant himself into the life of one of his patients."
When the premise reads like that, and when the leading cast consists of one half of the Anchorman team, the potential for greatness can't be understated. Combined with the comedic chops of Paul Rudd, Kathryn Hahn, and Casey Wilson? The project is looking good.
For Apple TV+ to snag a series like this is a major win, and it shows that they're funding a variety of content—not just gritty dramas.
8. Slow Horses (Series)
Slow Horses is an up-and-coming adaptation of Mick Herron's book that will star Gary Oldman, Olivia Cooke, Jonathan Pryce, Kristin Scott Thomas, and Jack Lowden. Any way you look at that, it has phenomenal potential with the people involved.
The story revolves around "an MI5 spy who's exiled for making mistakes." That might not be much of a description for those who haven't read the book, but it's enough to whet the appetite.
It evokes memories of the fantastic adaptation of John le Carré's Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, which also starred Gary Oldman and led to his first Oscar nomination. To see Oldman back in the spy genre is an exciting prospect that could lead to something special.
9. WeCrashed (Series)
WeCrashed is centered on one of the biggest startups in history—called WeWork, which you might be familiar with—and the borderline insane journey that the founders went through.
What makes this project so exciting is that Jared Leto and Anne Hathaway will be portraying Adam and Rebekah Newmann in the series. Both have signed up for the Apple TV+ project and will also act as executive producers on the show.
Seeing two Oscar-winning stars—who are both capable of turning out great performances—come together with such an interesting premise is a great prospect for Apple. It serves as another example of how much Apple is investing in their upcoming productions.
10. The Velvet Underground (Documentary)
Along with The Smiths, The Velvet Underground might just be the greatest indie band of all time—and in the years since they've split up, they've only had an increasingly bigger impact.
Oscar-nominated director Todd Haynes has been commissioned by Apple to go out into the world and bring back an in-depth documentary about this iconic band.
What little we know so far is that all of the surviving members of the band have sat for interviews and given their blessing for the documentary to be made.
Obviously, with Lou Reed's death in 2013, it means that we won't be seeing the legendary lead singer himself talk about the band. However, with or without Reed, a documentary about the band is long overdue.
