Apple has picked up the rights to a musical adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, starring Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds.
The movie, which will be shown on Apple TV+, will be written and directed by Sean Anders and John Morris, the creators of the hit Daddy’s Home movies.
The Hollywood Reporter notes that: “sources say Apple moved aggressively as it is seeks to make an impact in the original features space.” While most Apple TV+ productions have been series, Apple has started to acquire movies for its streaming service as well.
This is far from the first Christmas Carol movie. Previous big-screen versions have included Bill Murray’s Scrooged, The Muppet Christmas Carol, and more. Most recently, Back to the Future director Robert Zemeckis directed a 2009 version starring Jim Carrey.
Will Ferrell + Ryan Reynolds = Excitement?
Still, while this isn’t original, that’s not to say it can’t be good. Reynolds and Ferrell have large fanbases, and a well-received Christmas movie could have a long shelf-life.
My only big concern is Ferrell. Like a lot of people, I was an enormous Will Ferrell fan in the early 2000s. But his recent movie Holmes and Watson was pretty terrible. Hopefully A Christmas Carol won’t repeat that disaster. Especially if Apple is concerned about its reputation as a quality production company with Oscars in its sight. (I’m hoping for the best, though. Deadpool and Ron Burgundy in one movie sounds like it could be amazing!)
Apple TV+ will launch in November. It costs $4.99 per month, although people buying new iPhones, Macs and iPads get a year’s “free” subscription thrown in. For a list of all the shows Apple is producing, check out this run-down here. There’s no word on when A Christmas Carol will hit screens. But, with no evidence to support this, Christmas 2020 would make a lot of sense.
Are you excited about Apple TV+ and its various productions? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Hollywood Reporter
