AppleTV+ acquires Benjamin Cleary’s Swan Song starring Mahershala Ali

Oscar-winning director Benjamin Clearyā€™s Swan Song will be part of AppleTV+ā€™s original film library.

Apple made the announcement last February 19th that it had signed Clearyā€™s film that is starred and produced by two-time Oscar winner Mahershala Ali who will portray Milo and will start film production once spring starts. The film will also be produced by Anonymous Content and Apple alongside Ali.

Matt Dentler, Appleā€™s chief of feature development and acquisitions mentioned that Swan Songā€™s screenplay connected with Apple. Dentler explained that Clearyā€™s script for the movie left a mark on them, making them excited to bring the directorā€™s vision alongside Aliā€™s acting chops into the big screen.

Swan Song has been in development for a while according to Cleary, and after his sit-down with Apple did he realize that they understood his vision for the film. When Ali got on board the production, Cleary said that he knew they have something special and that creating this movie with the actor and Apple is a dream come true.

The story is set in the near future, Swan Song dives into how far a person will go to make things better for the people that they love.

Mahershala Ali has been ramping up his career, winning Academy Award for best supporting actor in The Green Book and Barry Jenkinsā€™ Moonlight. Ali has also been featured in films like The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Hunger Games franchise, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and in television shows like Netflixā€™s House of Cards, Luke Cage, and True Detective. He is also assumed to move forward and play the titular character in the Blade reboot.

Jacob Perlin and Adam Shulman from Anonymous Content explained that Cleary is a rare talent who is masterful when it comes to weaving human emotion into his films in the same way that many films produced by Anonymous Content have produced like Being John Malkovich and Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. The Anonymous Content duo added that they were grateful to have the opportunity to work with Ali in this thought-provoking production that will definitely have an impact on peopleā€™s minds that will surely become a conversation piece.

Swan Song is the newest addition to an already promising ApplTV+ lineup that includes Sundance 2020 Grand Jury prize documentary winner Boys State, Beastie Boys Story, The Banker, Wolfwalkers, and a lot more.

Alain Ang
Alain Ang
Alain Ang is an editor for Best in Au. He enjoys writing about entertainment, movies, and lifestyle. On off days he spends his time with his rescue dogs, Sansa and Heart, digging holes in Minecraft, and developing his novel.
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