Apple looking beyond just TV with push for animated feature film

Posted:
in iPod + iTunes + AppleTV edited June 2018
In a break from its other original video efforts, Apple is reportedly angling for the rights to an animated feature film, which could be seen in theaters.

Cartoon Saloon's latest movie,
Cartoon Saloon's latest movie, "The Breadwinner."


The company is in negotiations with an Oscar-nominated Irish studio, Cartoon Saloon, known for movies like "The Secret of Kells," "Song of the Sea," and more recently "The Breadwinner," Bloomberg sources claimed. While Apple is said to be nearing a distribution deal for the U.S. and some other countries, the movie in question has yet to be made, and is over a year away.

Plot details are unknown, as is how Apple intends to handle distribution. One source suggested however that a digital release could theoretically be joined by a theatrical one -- that would let the film qualify for the Academy Awards.

Apple is preparing to launch a high-budget TV slate sometime in 2019, possibly as soon as March. To date, though, every project announced so far has been a show rather than feature-length, such as J.J. Abrams' "Little Voices" and an adaptation of Isaac Asimov's "Foundation."

The company is reportedly spending $1 billion on its initial lineup. It's unknown if some of that budget is going towards the Cartoon Saloon picture.

Rumors have suggested that shows could be made available to anyone with an Apple device, particularly through the "TV" app for the iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV. To date, shows like "Carpool Karaoke" and "Planet of the Apps" have concentrated on Apple Music subscribers, though the former is now available outside that sphere.

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 5
    The report "the movie itself has yet to be made, and is over a year away" – is not totally accurate.  <Grin>.   The movie is already showing at my local art house cinema, The Watershed in Bristol UK.   Beautiful, too.  
    Alex1Nwatto_cobra
  • Reply 2 of 5
    Roger_FingasRoger_Fingas Posts: 148member, editor
    The report "the movie itself has yet to be made, and is over a year away" – is not totally accurate.  <Grin>.   The movie is already showing at my local art house cinema, The Watershed in Bristol UK.   Beautiful, too.  
    We mean the upcoming movie, not The Breadwinner.
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 3 of 5
    nunzynunzy Posts: 662member
    So long as everything is rated G, this is a fit for Apple.
  • Reply 4 of 5
    FolioFolio Posts: 698member
    I just wish they'd choose another name for the movie/tv content outfit. Why risk tarnishing Apple brand? In the arts world, you're bound to have clunkers, and even many hits will breed division or controversy among some group or nationality. It aint like selling a phone. Hope they reconsider. Maybe AI can start a contest to suggest a better name for Apple Studio.
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 5 of 5
    rogifan_newrogifan_new Posts: 4,297member
    Not sure I like the idea of Apple becoming Sony.
    Alex1N
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