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Following Formula 1, Apple has snagged Brad Pitt for its next big film: In „Connector,“ he plays a steelworker balancing on girders high above 1970s New York. The film is directed by the man behind „Sound of Metal.“ A release date has not yet been announced.
Apple Original Films has acquired the film project „Connector.“ Brad Pitt will star and produce through his company Plan B, with Darius Marder directing. The deal was revealed through an exclusive report by Deadline; Apple TV's official X channel then shared it, confirming the news.
This is Apple's third major collaboration with Pitt. Their most important film together to date is F1, which, according to Apple, has become the most-watched film in Apple TV history.
Key Takeaways
- Brad Pitt plays a legendary steelworker in 1970s New York in „Connector“.
- The film is directed by Darius Marder, who wrote the screenplay together with his sister Nina Marder.
- The film is produced by Plan B with Pitt, Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner; Marder is also producing.
- Apple Studios is the studio in charge; the film is released under the Apple Original Films label.
- There is no release date yet; according to Deadline, Pitt plans to film it as his next project in 2027.
What Connector is about
The synopsis released so far remains brief: The film is set in 1970s New York and tells the story of a working-class legend, a steelworker who walks across girders at dizzying heights, taking on forces greater than himself. The description doesn't reveal who or what the character is fighting against.
The title is a term from steel construction. "Connector" refers to the workers who stand at the very top during the erection of a building and position and connect the newly delivered steel beams.
Six Oscar nominations for the debut
Darius Marder has directed one feature film to date: „Sound of Metal,“ starring Riz Ahmed as a drummer who loses his hearing. The film received six Oscar nominations, including Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay, and won awards for Best Sound and Best Film Editing.
He co-wrote the screenplay with his brother Abraham Marder. „Connector“ is his second feature film as a director. Pitt and Marder are said to have been developing the project together for some time before it landed at Apple.
Pitt and Apple: Round Three
The connection between Pitt and Apple goes back several years, and it wasn't without friction.
| Film | Partner | Publication |
|---|---|---|
| Wolf's | George Clooney | September 2024, after a brief theatrical run in the US, directly on Apple TV |
| F1 | Joseph Kosinski (Director) | Theatrical release June 2025, available on Apple TV from December 12, 2025 |
| Connector | Darius Marder (Director) | Date not yet known |
With Wolf, Apple pulled the planned wide theatrical release about six weeks before its scheduled launch and instead released the film for streaming. F1, on the other hand, was released worldwide in theaters by Warner Bros., became the highest-grossing sports film of all time, and won the Oscar for Best Sound in March. According to producer Jerry Bruckheimer, a sequel to F1 is also in development.
Why Apple is pursuing Pitt
I interpret the deal as a sign that the relationship between Apple and Pitt has weathered the controversy surrounding the theatrical release of Wolf and is focused on continuity after F1. The subject matter, however, is quite different: not a blockbuster with a racetrack, but a working-class drama with a director whose debut was a quiet, very physical drama.
Apple TV subscribers will need to be patient until then. If Pitt films the movie in 2027 as reported, I expect it to be released no earlier than 2028, whether in theaters first or directly on streaming services.
Would you rather see Brad Pitt in a quiet drama like Connector or in the announced sequel to F1? Let us know in the comments which of the two films appeals to you more.
