Tom Hanks and producing partner Gary Goetzman clearly seem to have found a home at Apple TV+ – following the deal to bring former Sony movie Greyhound to the company and working on new World War II series Masters Of The Air, the duo has now signed a big new deal, which includes developing a sequel to the ship drama.
2020's Greyhound saw writing and starring as Captain Krause, an inexperienced US Navy commander who must lead an Allied convoy being stalked by a German submarine wolf pack.
The movie was based on CS Forrester's 1955 novel The Good Shepherd – not to be confused with 2006's film of the same name, which followed the founding of the CIA – so given the fictional (if historically thorough) basis, there's plenty of scope for future adventures with Krause.
Masters Of The Air, meanwhile, sees Hanks once again collaborating with Steven Spielberg for a story of World War II drama, in this case an ensemble of young actors including Elvis star Austin Butler, which tells the deeply personal story of the American bomber boys in World War II who brought the war to Hitler’s doorstep.
Keeping Hanks onside is big for Apple, which has plenty of momentum following CODA's Oscar victory and praise for its TV offerings.