Apple TV Drops 'Bonfire of the Vanities' Series
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- "The Bonfire of the Vanities" series adaptation, originally sold to Apple TV in April, is no longer moving forward at the streamer, with Warner Bros. Television set to shop it to other buyers
- Apple TV opted not to proceed because the parties were "not creatively aligned," with David E. Kelley reportedly unhappy about how the project had been handled
- Matt Reeves will direct the adaptation of Tom Wolfe's 1987 novel, which explores greed and racial divisions in 1980s New York City, with Reeves and Sarah Geismer executive producing via 6th and Idaho Productions
- David E. Kelley remains in business with Apple TV on Margo's Got Money Troubles (8 Emmy nominations) and Presumed Innocent (4 prior nominations), both picked up for second seasons
- The project marks Kelley's second Tom Wolfe adaptation after Netflix's 2024 limited series A Man in Full, starring Jeff Daniels and Diane Lane
Why it matters: The project's collapse at Apple TV over creative alignment — despite Kelley's existing relationship with the streamer via two Emmy-nominated series — leaves WBTV with a high-profile package featuring a top showrunner and the Batman director to take to market.
