Apple Lands UFO Conspiracy Thriller in Multimillion-Dollar Deal

Apple has secured a major film deal that's making waves in Hollywood, according to a recent report from The Hollywood Reporter. The tech giant has picked up an untitled project centered on Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP), previously known as UFOs, in a deal valued at tens of millions of dollars. The package brings together director Joseph Kosinski, writer Zach Baylin, and veteran producer Jerry Bruckheimer for a high-stakes conspiracy thriller.

The project marks another collaboration between Apple, Kosinski, and Bruckheimer, who are already working together on the upcoming racing film F1, set for release this summer. Kosinski, known for Top Gun: Maverick, will direct and produce, while Baylin, the Oscar-nominated scribe of King Richard, is writing the script. Bruckheimer, a Hollywood heavyweight with credits like Top Gun and Pirates of the Caribbean, rounds out the producing team. The story follows two national security workers uncovering a covert program to recover and reverse-engineer crashed UAPs, tapping into a timely and intriguing premise.




This deal stands out for its hefty price tags. Sources report Kosinski secured an eight-figure directing fee, placing him among elite filmmakers like Christopher Nolan and Steven Spielberg. Baylin's mid-seven-figure payday could climb higher with sole writing credit, positioning him at the top of the screenwriter market. Bruckheimer, too, is said to be earning a mid-seven-figure producing fee, reflecting his enduring clout. Apple confirmed the deal but declined to comment on the financial details.

The project sparked a fierce bidding war in mid-February, drawing interest from Warner Bros., Paramount, Skydance, Amazon, Sony, and Apple. The appeal lies partly in the team's track record—Kosinski and Bruckheimer's Top Gun: Maverick grossed nearly $1.5 billion in 2022, and their current Apple-backed F1 project, starring Brad Pitt, is generating significant buzz. Baylin's recent work, including Creed III and The Order, adds further credibility. The package also includes David Grusch, a congressional UAP whistleblower, as a consultant and associate producer, alongside executive producer Sonya Brown.

Though studios have regained ground in the theatrical market, the final showdown came down to streaming giants Amazon and Apple. Apple's willingness to partner with studios for theatrical releases, as seen with F1 and Warner Bros., likely tipped the scales. Insiders suggest a similar theatrical strategy could be in play for the UAP film, with backend participation potentially boosting its value further. Relationships also factored in, with the F1 team eager to reunite. CAA orchestrated the deal, representing Kosinski, Baylin, and Bruckheimer.

For Apple fans, this move reinforces the company's growing presence in premium entertainment, blending cutting-edge storytelling with big-screen ambition. The untitled UAP project has no release date yet, but it's already shaping up as a must-watch.


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