Apple Nixes 'Bastards' TV Show Starring Richard Gere

Apple is not moving forward with "Bastards," a show based on an Israeli mini-series that was set to star Richard Gere, reports Variety.

Apple acquired the rights to the series, described as a violent and mature drama, last year. Apple outbid Showtime, FX, and Amazon for the show, and gave it a straight to series order.

The Israeli version of the show (called "Nevelot," which is "Bastards" in Hebrew) focused on two military veterans who go on a killing spree targeting young people who "don't understand the sacrifices of their generation."

Richard Gere was going to star in the series and he had also signed on to executive produce. The plan was to reformat the show for an American audience, turning the two veterans into Vietnam vets among other changes, but the premise may have been too violent for Apple. It was set to feature two elderly Vietnam vets who find their lives upended when a woman they loved fifty years ago is killed by a car, leading them on a spree of violence.

According to Variety, development on the show was ended due to creative differences between Apple and the producers. Apple released the project and ended up paying a "large financial penalty." This is the second show Apple has shelved that we know of. Apple also halted development on "Vital Signs," a TV series based on the life of Dr. Dre, reportedly due to scenes of gun violence and drug use.

There have been mixed rumors suggesting Apple is avoiding content that is "edgy" and adult-oriented in nature for Apple TV+, but there are a wide variety of shows in the works, some of which do appear to have adult content. Apple iTunes chief Eddy Cue recently said that Apple execs are not involved in the development of ‌Apple TV‌+ shows and do not have editorial input.

"I saw the comments that myself and Tim were writing notes on the scripts and whatever," said Cue. "There's never been one note passed from us on scripts, that I can assure you. We leave the folks [alone] who know they're doing."

Apple has dozens of TV shows and movies in development for Apple TV+, and the service is set to launch this fall. Initial offerings will include "For All Mankind," "Dickinson," and "The Morning Show."

Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Popular Stories

iOS 26 Feature

iOS 26.1 to iOS 26.4 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Wednesday October 1, 2025 1:26 pm PDT by
iOS 26 was released last month, but the software train never stops, and iOS 26.1 beta testing is already underway. So far, iOS 26.1 makes both Apple Intelligence and Live Translation on compatible AirPods available in additional languages, and it includes some other minor changes across Apple Music, Calendar, Photos, and Safari. More features and changes will follow in future versions,...
iPhone 17 vs Air and Pros Feature

New iPhones See 'Stronger Than Expected' Demand With One Exception

Thursday October 2, 2025 7:26 am PDT by
Nearly two weeks after the iPhone 17 series launched, analysts at investment banking firm Morgan Stanley said demand for the devices has been "modestly stronger than we originally expected," based on a combination of extended shipping estimates on Apple's online store and information it gathered from Apple's supply chain. There has been strong early demand for the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro,...
space black mbp

Here's Every New Apple Product That Leaked Yesterday

Wednesday October 1, 2025 8:27 am PDT by
A handful of upcoming Apple products leaked yesterday, through a combination of YouTube videos out of Russia and U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) documents that were released, despite Apple's confidentiality requests. The leaked products include an iPad Pro with an M5 chip, as well as updated MacBook Pro and Apple Vision Pro models. All of these devices had already been rumored...
apple wallet drivers license feature iPhone 15 pro teal 1

Apple's iPhone Driver's License Feature Now Available in 11 U.S. States

Tuesday September 30, 2025 6:40 am PDT by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. Apple recently revealed that the feature would soon be available in North Dakota, and starting today, the feature has officially gone...
Tim Cook Rainbow

Apple Event in October? Here's What to Expect

Monday September 29, 2025 9:31 am PDT by
Apple's annual iPhone event is in the rearview mirror, but rumors suggest the company plans to release a handful of additional products before the year ends. Will there be another Apple event this October? We discuss the possibility below. Apple in October Apple's most recent October events were in 2021 and 2023. In 2022 and 2024, Apple did not host an October event. Instead, it...
fcc vision pro leak

FCC Accidentally Leaks Apple's Next Vision Pro

Tuesday September 30, 2025 3:48 pm PDT by
The United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has seemingly confirmed Apple's work on an updated version of the Vision Pro headset. One of several documents the FCC shared today references an Apple-designed "Head Mounted Device" with a model number of A3416. An included image confirms the device is a Vision Pro. The FCC's uploads are transmission tests, SAR test reports, and...
macbook pro prime day 2025

FCC Leaks Upcoming MacBook Pro and More

Tuesday September 30, 2025 1:58 pm PDT by
The United States Federal Communications Commission has confirmed Apple's work on a new version of the MacBook Pro and several other products, leaking details on the devices ahead of launch. The FCC published documents that reference model numbers that do not correspond with existing devices. A3434, for example, references an unreleased MacBook Pro, while other numbers are likely for...
Apple 2025 Thumb 1

Apple's 2025 Product Roadmap: What's Still Coming

Wednesday October 1, 2025 3:56 pm PDT by
Apple's two big yearly events, WWDC and the iPhone launch, are done and over with, but there are still some new products that we're expecting to see before the end of the year. Apple TV The Apple TV hasn't been updated since 2022, so it's due for a refresh. It doesn't look like Apple is going to change the design of its set-top box, but we can expect a faster chip Apple code suggests...
maxresdefault

New iPad Pro With M5 Chip Leaked in Unboxing Video

Tuesday September 30, 2025 8:39 am PDT by
An apparent unboxing video for an unannounced iPad Pro with the M5 chip was uploaded to YouTube today by Russian channel Wylsacom. The same YouTube account leaked the 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M4 chip before it was announced by Apple last year, so this is likely a legitimate leak. Based on the box shown in the video, this appears to be a 13-inch iPad Pro with an M5 chip, 256GB of...
iOS 26 Everything New Feature

26 Hidden iOS 26 Tricks to Change How You Use Your iPhone

Wednesday October 1, 2025 9:16 am PDT by
Apple released iOS 26 in mid-September, bringing a range of new features and changes to iPhones across the globe. But not all of the included improvements have been showcased with Apple's typical fanfare, and many are likely to have been overlooked. Below, we've highlighted 26 lesser known additions and enhancements that could potentially change how you use your iPhone on a daily basis. Got...

Top Rated Comments

macduke Avatar
80 months ago
In the current climate of shootings nearly every day, it's probably not best to make a TV series glorifying violence against people you don't agree with.
Score: 72 Votes (Like | Disagree)
swingerofbirch Avatar
80 months ago
Today's Apple would nix the 1984 ad for being too counterculture.
Score: 36 Votes (Like | Disagree)
OriginalMacRat Avatar
80 months ago
Apple wanted to change the guns to water pistols.

https://blog.emojipedia.org/content/images/size/w2000/2016/08/header-gun.jpg
Score: 27 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Pepe4life Avatar
80 months ago
And I’m supposed to believe Tim Cook didn’t inject his political ideologies into this service? Hilarious!
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Chocolatemilty Avatar
80 months ago
In the current climate of shootings nearly every day, it's probably not best to make a TV series glorifying violence against people you don't agree with.
This is exactly what I was thinking. Commenters on here are missing the point decrying SJWs or whatever. Apple is not Netflix, Amazon, or Hulu, and Disney isn’t any of them either — their content will reflect on the company. That’s it. Apple — with their CEO at least somewhat visible in humanitarian efforts and certain events and incidents that happen in the US — most likely don’t want their company being in the business of glorifying a show with white men shooting millennials due to disagreements anymore because of current events in the US. That’s a business decision firstly, and then gets to morals and convictions and all that afterwards.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
topmounter Avatar
80 months ago
Clearly Apple needs romantic comedies vetted by their committee of socially woke taste-makers.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)