Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrellupcoming holiday movie spicy – a musical retelling of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas song — will open in select theaters on November 11 before making its worldwide debut on Apple TV+ November 18 ahead of Thanksgiving.
Original Apple Movies announced the release plans for the high-profile film on Friday. It is not yet clear how many cinemas spicy will play, as many exhibitors are reluctant to carry a film that arrives so quickly now that the theater box office is recovering from the pandemic.
For its part – like its rivals – Apple Original Films’ main focus is on creating compelling content for its streaming service, rather than playing a full-fledged theatrical performance that requires major marketing spend.
Streamers generally do not report theatrical gross profit. A traditional Hollywood event photo opens on 3,000 to 4,000 screens, while a streamer’s event title often plays in no more than 400 to 500 locations.
The family-friendly spicy could serve as counterprogramming to Marvel and Disney’s superhero sequel Black Panther: Wakanda Foreverwhich will hit the big screen on November 11.
Octavia Spencer also stars in spicy. Reynolds plays the iconic character Ebeneezer Scrooge and Ferrell, the Ghost of Christmas Present. Sean Anders (father is home, Immediate family) directed the film from a script he co-wrote with John Morris. Patrick Page, Sunita Mani, Loren Woods, Joe Tippett, Marlow Barkley and Jen Tullock round out the cast.
Producers include Anders, John Morris, Reynolds, George Dewey, Ferrell, Jessica Albaum and David Koplan.
Apple TV+ is available in more than 100 countries and regions.