Deadline is reporting that Apple Original Films has acquired the worldwide rights to Anthony and Joe Russo’s Tom Holland-led drama Cherry. The outlet notes the deal landed in the high $40 millions and also gives Apple an awards season contender with plans to premiere the film in early 2021 on Apple TV+.
RELATED: Cherry: Joe Russo Says Tom Holland-Led Film is Almost Done With Post-Production
Cherry tells the true-life story of author Nico Walker (played by Holland in the movie), a former Army medic who returned from Iraq with extreme un-diagnosed PTSD and fell into opioid addiction and began robbing banks. Walker was caught in 2011 and is scheduled to be released in 2020. The novel has been branded as a sort of hybrid of Jesus’ Son and Reservoir Dogs; a story about love, war, bank robberies, and heroin. You can get your own copy of the book by clicking here! Walker previously handled the bidding war for his book while serving time in prison, which complicated matters since he was only allotted a specific amount of minutes per phone call.
Additional cast includes Ciara Bravo (Wayne) as Walker’s wife, Kelli Burglund (Now Apocalypse), Jack Reynor (Midsommar), Forrest Goodluck (The Revenant), Jeff Wahlberg (Dora and the Lost City of Gold), Michael Gandolfini (The Deuce), Kyle Harvey (The After Party), and Thomas Lennon (Reno 911!).
RELATED: Joe Russo Teases Tom Holland’s Performance in Cherry
Cherry was adapted by Jessica Goldberg (The Path) and co-written by Angela Otstot (The Shield). The movie is produced by the Russo Brothers, Chris Castaldi, and studio president Mike Larocca under their AGBO Films banner, alongside CEO Jonathan Grey and President Matthew Rhodes under their The Hideaway Entertainment banner. The movie is executive produced by Todd Makurath and Jake Aust from AGBO and The Hideaway Entertainment’s Kristy Maurer Grisham and Judd Payne.
(Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)
