Tom Hanks Discusses 'Heartbreaking' Shift of WWII Film Greyhound From Theatrical Blockbuster to Apple TV+ Exclusive

Tom Hanks' WWII drama "Greyhound" is set to premiere on Apple TV+ this Friday, July 10, and ahead of that debut the actor gave an interview with The Guardian discussing the film.

greyhoundappletvplus
"Greyhound" was originally planned to see a theatrical release this summer, and was repeatedly delayed in the wake of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Apple won the streaming rights to the film, and in the new interview Hanks gave his honest opinion regarding the project's shift from big screen theatrical blockbuster to direct-to-streaming film.

But Greyhound has been an especial labour of love for [Hanks], one he sweated over for almost a decade, and it is one of those sweeping war movies that really should be seen on the big screen. So the change in plans has been, he says, “an absolute heartbreak. I don’t mean to make angry my Apple overlords, but there is a difference in picture and sound quality.”

Hanks himself approved of the deal with Apple, so his frustration lies less with ‌Apple TV‌+ than with the overall state of many theatrical releases going directly to streaming platforms. In terms of Hanks' filmography, this marks the first time one of Hanks' starring movies has gone directly to streaming.

Besides acting in the lead role of naval career officer George Krause, Hanks also wrote the screenplay, which is based on the C.S. Forester novel "The Good Shepherd." The film is set during the early days of the United States' involvement in World War II, and follows Krause, who is in command of Navy destroyer Greyhound, as he leads a convoy of Allied ships against an attack by German U-boats.

In another tidbit from today's interview, Hanks notes that "the cruel whipmasters at Apple" asked him to sit in front of a blank wall in his home for the video call with The Guardian.

Apple TV+ is having a similarly negative impact on Hanks’ appearance in this interview. Even though he is in his office, “the cruel whipmasters at Apple” decided the background needed to be a blank wall, presumably so nosy journalists like me wouldn’t spend the whole encounter snooping at Hanks’ bookcases. Against the eerily empty backdrop, he looks, Hanks rightly says, as if he’s in “a witness protection programme. But here I am, bowing to the needs of Apple TV.”

Head to The Guardian to check out the full interview, where Hanks discusses his classic roles in films like Apollo 13 and much more.

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro to Reverse iPhone X Design Decision

Monday July 7, 2025 9:46 am PDT by
Since the iPhone X in 2017, all of Apple's highest-end iPhone models have featured either stainless steel or titanium frames, but it has now been rumored that this design decision will be coming to an end with the iPhone 17 Pro models later this year. In a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo today, the account Instant Digital said that the iPhone 17 Pro models will have an aluminum...
iphone 16 pro models 1

Here's How the iPhone 17 Pro Max Will Compare to the iPhone 17 Pro

Saturday July 5, 2025 1:00 pm PDT by
Apple should unveil the iPhone 17 series in September, and there might be one bigger difference between the Pro and Pro Max models this year. As always, the Pro Max model will be larger than the Pro model:iPhone 17 Pro: 6.3-inch display iPhone 17 Pro Max: 6.9-inch displayGiven the Pro Max is physically larger than the Pro, it has more internal space, allowing for a larger battery and...
iOS 26 Feature

Everything New in iOS 26 Beta 3

Monday July 7, 2025 1:20 pm PDT by
Apple is continuing to refine and update iOS 26, and beta three features smaller changes than we saw in beta 2, plus further tweaks to the Liquid Glass design. Apple is gearing up for the next phase of beta testing, and the company has promised that a public beta is set to come out in July. Transparency In some apps like Apple Music, Podcasts, and the App Store, Apple has toned down the...
imac video apple feature

Apple Launching These 15+ Products Later This Year

Sunday July 6, 2025 8:05 am PDT by
The calendar has turned to July, meaning that 2025 is now more than half over. And while the summer months are often quiet for Apple, the company still has more than a dozen products coming later this year, according to rumors. Below, we have outlined at least 15 new Apple products that are expected to launch later this year, along with key rumored features for each. iPhone 17 Series iPho...
iPhone Car Key Kia

Here's Which Vehicles Offer iPhone Car Keys

Sunday July 6, 2025 3:03 pm PDT by
In 2020, Apple added a digital car key feature to its Wallet app, allowing users to lock, unlock, and start a compatible vehicle with an iPhone or Apple Watch. The feature is currently offered by select automakers, including Audi, BMW, Hyundai, Kia, Genesis, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, and a handful of others, and it is set to expand further. Apple has a web page with a list of vehicle models that ...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro Coming Soon With These 14 New Features

Friday July 4, 2025 1:05 pm PDT by
Apple's next-generation iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are just over two months away, and there are plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models. Latest Rumors These rumors surfaced in June and July:Apple logo repositioned: Apple's logo may have a lower position on the back of the iPhone 17 Pro models, compared to previous...
iphone 17 pro render majin bu

New iPhone 17 Pro Renders Highlight Apple Logo and MagSafe Design Changes

Sunday July 6, 2025 8:43 pm PDT by
New renders today provide the best look yet relocated Apple logo and redesigned MagSafe magnet array of the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Image via Majin Bu. Several of the design changes coming to the iPhone 17 Pro model have been rumored for some time, such as the elongated camera bump that spans the full width of the device, with the LiDAR Scanner and flash moving to the right side. ...
apple account card feature

Apple Account Card Expanding to More Countries

Tuesday July 8, 2025 7:34 pm PDT by
Apple is expanding the ability to add an Apple Account Card to the Wallet app to more countries, according to backend Apple Pay changes. With iOS 15.5, Apple updated the Wallet app to allow users to add an Apple Account Card, which displays the Apple credit balance associated with an Apple ID. If you receive an Apple gift card, for example, it is added to an Apple Account that is also...
iPhone 14 Pro Dynamic Island

iPhone 17 Models Rumored to Feature Redesigned Dynamic Island

Monday July 7, 2025 7:38 am PDT by
iPhone 17 models will feature a redesigned Dynamic Island user interface, according to a post today from Digital Chat Station, an account with more than three million followers on Chinese social media platform Weibo. The account has accurately leaked some information regarding future Apple products in the past. The account did not share any specific details about the alleged changes that are ...

Top Rated Comments

vipergts2207 Avatar
65 months ago
“I don’t mean to make angry my Apple overlords, but there is a difference in picture and sound quality.”

Not at my house Tom. 4K HDR with 5.2.2 surround sound. I’ll take my setup over a movie theater with sticky floors and overpriced snacks any day.
Score: 74 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Rainshadow Avatar
65 months ago

“Heartbreaking”...doesn’t Tom mean he’s sad he won’t make as much from it? Maybe he has a real skill that he can contribute to society then.
Wow... someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning...
Score: 30 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dannys1 Avatar
65 months ago
I’m not being funny but the visual and audio quality of most mainstream cinemas leaves a lot to be desired. My 65” OLED and custom sound solution is far better.
Score: 30 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Dresling Avatar
65 months ago

Many, many people are suffering from this pandemic. Get in line, Tom.
I believe Mr. Hanks is well aware since both he and his wife got infected while being in Australia. They were confined in quarantine and felt the disease on their own bodies. I believe Mr. Hanks is genuinely sad about the lost theatrical experience rather than monetary reasons.
Score: 26 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Menel Avatar
65 months ago

Some moveis should be seen in theatre - watching on a small screen seems like a rip-off.
Define "small", heh.

The peace of a home theater is much more immersive.
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bcomer Avatar
65 months ago
Some moveis should be seen in theatre - watching on a small screen seems like a rip-off.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)