Apple Inks Deal for Bryce Dallas Howard Documentary 'Dads'

Apple has acquired the worldwide distribution rights for "Dads," a documentary directed by actress Bryce Dallas Howard, reports Variety.

The film, which will include commentary from Bryce Dallas Howard, her father director Ron Howard and his partner Brian Grazer, is premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival today. The documentary is described as a "joyful exploration of contemporary fatherhood."

It will offer up anecdotes and wisdom from celebrities like Will Smith, Jimmy Fallon, Neil Patrick Harris, Kenan Thompson, Ken Jeong, and more, along with portraits of non-celebrity dads around the world.

If the old-fashioned father was stern and stoic, the contemporary one is more vulnerable and self-deprecating. Conan O'Brien sums up parenthood as "this incredible realization that you're not the most important person in the world." Patton Oswalt, who became a single parent after his wife's death, reflects on how quickly kids grow up: "You get the tiniest window and then it's gone just like that." Hasan Minhaj pays tribute to his immigrant father, whose short-term sacrifice was for his family's long-term gain.

Fathers can be close, distant, absent, or anything in between. Whatever your experience, this film warmly encourages conversations about how to be a better parent.

After its premiere at the festival, "Dads" will be available on Apple TV+ at some point after it launches, and a theatrical run is also a possibility.

There is no word yet on when ‌Apple TV‌+ is going to launch, but we may learn additional details about the service at Apple's upcoming iPhone event, set to take place on Tuesday, September 10.

Tags: Apple TV Shows, Apple TV Plus Guide

Top Rated Comments

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GrumpyMom

24 weeks ago

They keep throwing around that “stern and stoic” stereotype about “old fashioned” fathers. And sometimes it’s even framed as a bad thing. But I wonder if it’s historically factual or just something else we throw out there to make modern concepts of fatherhood look more advanced.

I didn’t see that type of fatherhood in either side of my family. My grandpa was born in the late 1800’s and yeah he believed in discipline and raising kids up to be aware that actions have consequences, but he was an accessible, funny guy. I’m told my other grandfather over in Asia was the same way.

Rating: 8 Votes

subjonas

24 weeks ago

Ugh, almost everything they've announced so far for Apple TV+ just sounds absolutely horrible! I hope that I'm proven wrong.

Why does this sound horrible? Fatherhood, and the lack of it, is foundational to a person’s development and therefore to society; and the changing of the role from one generation to the next is interesting to say the absolute least. I for one am interested to hear anyone’s insights about their experience as a father or with their own father. The thing about fatherhood is that it’s a universal role that transcends occupation and societal status.

Rating: 7 Votes

Mactendo

24 weeks ago

There should be more documentaries like that. About fathers, brothers, husbands, male psychology in general. These days conversation swirls mostly around women and female issues.

Rating: 6 Votes

RodThePlod

24 weeks ago

The film, which will include commentary from Bryce Dallas Howard, her father director Ron Howard and his partner Brian Grazer, is premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival today.

Did you miss out the word "business"?

Rating: 5 Votes

TacoChowder

24 weeks ago

Man I wish I was born to a successful actor or director. Just easily tossed projects in the beginning and your career is set. I was the only person on some shows I worked on who wasn't a there from some form of nepotism, it was insane.

Rating: 4 Votes

machpost

24 weeks ago

Ugh, almost everything they've announced so far for Apple TV+ just sounds absolutely horrible! I hope that I'm proven wrong.

Rating: 4 Votes

R3k

23 weeks ago

I'm kind of hoping that Apple's offerings might be a little bit of a port in the storm of all the other 'edgy' stuff out there. I feel like my life isn't any better for watching more things blow up, lives ruined, protracted and ridiculously overwrought fight scenes, and/or apocalyptic-eschatological themes all the time. I totally get that part of basic story telling is drama, and there's a real place for thoughtful fiction that acts as a warning mirror to society in general. But man have we ever amped it up. It's gotten to ridiculous levels and people are so desensitized that it somehow now makes sense and is required for our hero to get hit in the head with a tire iron and yet get up to pound his opponent to mush with technicolor fluids all over the screen. It's really idiotic in a way. I laughed myself silly at Kill Bill Vol 1's big ending because Tarantino was so perfect in how he overdid it. But people think this is somehow now necessary for anything to be considered even remotely good. I for one would appreciate a little of the escapism that's good for the soul that we seem to have abandoned in favour of all the edginess.

/old
//off my soap box now
///will watch this and probably enjoy it
//// sorrynotsorry

I get what you mean. But to clarify, by edgy, I mean progressive, different, challenging, etc. A show that goes out on a limb and does things differently.

Doesn’t have anything to do with violent content.
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Not sure if conservative or Liberal PC either one is bad lets not bring politics into this I don't want a migraine.

That’s hilarious. But let’s assume you’re not joking however?

I’m not using conservative in a political sense. Conservative filmmaking is not about making Republican propaganda movies and such. The word has quite a history before its recent political appropriation. Check it out.

Rating: 2 Votes

R3k

24 weeks ago

0% excitement about any show they’ve announced. I wonder if they’ll ever do anything edgy.....my guess is that their programming will stay pretty conservative however.

Rating: 2 Votes

AppleInLVX

23 weeks ago

Ah. I see. Well, all right then, although I'm not sure what that looks like. Television and movies have changed a lot over the years as it is. It seems attention spans are shorter and the shows of today move at speeds that are far more rapid than 10 or 20 years ago. I'd consider that change a little more "edgy" but it isn't the sort of thing one consciously acknowledges. It is interesting though. The movies I loved when I was a kid--the kids today lost interest in minutes because the hook doesn't happen quickly or strongly enough. I sometimes wonder what that means for storytelling. I guess for me, I'd love to slow down and get something a little nicer or more thoughtful, but then, networks and services don't program just for little 'ol me. :rolleyes:

Rating: 2 Votes

Kabeyun

24 weeks ago

Surprised that I'm not finding any shock or hateful comments about a documentary only focusing on men. Seems like "people" only like to bash women. Can you believe it? I can't believe it! :eek:

Instead, we’re finding comments on how boring Apple TV+ will be, presumably because it’ll have a show about fatherhood instead of murder, controversy, or aliens. Pretty good litmus test of the mean age of this “community.”

Rating: 2 Votes

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