Amber Neely
Apple's original movie "The Banker" will get a theatrical release in March two weeks prior to its debut on Apple's streaming service.
Apple had originally planned on giving the film a December 6 debut, but had delayed the release after allegations of sexual abuse and inaccuracy. Now, Apple will give "The Banker" its theatrical release on March 6, and release to Apple TV+ on March 20.
"We created Apple TV Plus as a home for stories that matter and believe The Banker,' inspired by the brave actions of Bernard Garrett Sr. and Joe Morris, two African American businessmen who brought about positive social change, is one of those stories," a spokesperson from Apple told Variety. The banker had been supported throughout the investigation by the films cast and crew.
"The Banker" follows two African American entrepreneurs working to overcome the racial limitations of the 1960s. Two business men, played by Jackson and Mackie, quietly try to provide housing loans to the African American community in Jim Crow Texas.
The film is based off of the true story of two African American businessmen who hired a working-class white man to pretend to be the head of their business empire. At the same time, the pair posed as a janitor and chauffeur.
The accusations were leveled by Cynthia Garrett, the half-sister of co-producer and consultant Bernard Garrett Jr., whose father is the subject of the film. Garrett Jr. is not depicted in the film.
The film hosts big name celebrities such as Samuel L. Jackson, Anthony Mackie, and Nicholas Hoult. The film is directed by George Nolfi ("The Adjustment Bureau"), and is produced by Joe Viertel.
William Gallagher
Christine McKee
AppleInsider Staff
Chip Loder
Malcolm Owen
4 Comments
Watched a trailer for "Mythic Quest" and was stunned by the rampant, snarky behavior. Once or twice, ha-ha. Pervasive? Nauseating.
Any news on what the resolution was, or what prompted Apple to go ahead and release the film?
a) Cpsro -- try to pay attention to which story you're commenting on. This story is about "The Banker," not "Mythic Quest" (not being judgey, I've made the same mistake before).
b) Bestkeptsecret -- while I don't know for sure, I suspect that if any legal action were actually being taken by the accuser, we would have heard about it by now. But even if there is a case that is working its way slowly through, it has absolutely nothing to do with the film at all and involves only an accusation levelled at the co-producer, who is the son of the film's subject.
I think, simply put, Apple delayed the film to see if the story went any wider than the initial accusation. Now that it hasn't, it was time to release the film.