Apple TV+ is still in its toddler stage of development. The newborn/infant stage was rife with lackluster reviews, not-so-great viewership, and a general feeling of disinterest by the greater public. But recently, thanks to the critically acclaimed TV series “Ted Lasso” and major exclusive films like “Cherry” and “Greyhound,” Apple’s streaming service has become a legit contender in the Streaming Wars. And now the tech giant wants to make a real grab at some Oscars by snatching the rights to Joel Coen’s upcoming drama, “The Tragedy of Macbeth.”
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According to Deadline, Apple TV+ has struck yet another deal with its bestie, A24, for the rights to “The Tragedy of Macbeth,” the highly-anticipated drama that stars Frances McDormand and Denzel Washington. The film is written and directed by Joel Coen and marks the first film directed by just one-half of the famous directing duo. Joining McDormand and Washington in the film are Brendan Gleeson, Corey Hawkins, Sean Patrick Thomas, Ralph Ineson, and Brian Thompson.
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Clearly, whenever you have a film directed by a Coen brother and starring two of the most decorated actors in history, you’d be crazy not to assume this is going to be an instant Oscars contender. “The Tragedy of Macbeth” is a film that joins Apple’s recent acquisitions like the festival favorite “CODA” and the upcoming Tom Hanks sci-fi drama, “Finch,” both of which are also expected to be possible awards contenders. Much like what Netflix has done recently, Apple TV+ hopes to crack into the discussion as one of the big film studios that work with premier talent. And you can’t be much more premier than Coen, McDormand, and Washington.
An official release date has yet to be announced for “The Tragedy of Macbeth,” but the film is expected to see a fall release through A24 in theaters before arriving later on Apple TV+.