Deadline:

Deadline hears that the tug of war over one of the highest profile films in Hollywood is about over. Apple will win the derby for the Martin Scorsese-directed film Killers Of The Flower Moon, with Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro in the lead roles. The deals are being papered — Paramount still has to sign off — but I’m told when they are, it will be an Apple original film, and Paramount will distribute theatrically worldwide.

OK, a grain of salt there, “Deadline hears” that this is true. But Deadline has a reasonable track record and I do want Apple to have an original Scorsese movie!

The deal, which calls for Apple to finance and become the creative studio, gives the movie a hybrid situation and the best of both worlds. The film will get a wide theatrical release through Paramount before it becomes the biggest film title so far on Apple’s streaming service.

Apple TV+ is evolving, their deals adjusting to the marketplace. This is a high-profile project and might be a path to high profile awards that will lend Apple TV+ movie creds. Grain of salt for all of this.