Hanks and Spielberg to produce Band of Brothers follow-up series for Apple

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

After establishing their own in-house studio called Masters, Apple has secured a follow-up to the BAND OF BROTHERS and THE PACIFIC series titled MASTERS OF THE AIR. The project hails from executive producers Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, who in 1998 delivered what's often hailed as the "greatest war film of all time," SAVING PRIVATE RYAN. The new series will be featured as a marque attraction for Apple TV Plus, the company's exclusive streaming service which is set for a March, 2020 launch. Managing the Masters studio are renowned video wizards Zack Van Amburg and Jamie Erlicht.

Based on the book by Donald L. Miller, “Masters of the Air” is said to follow the true, deeply personal story of the American bomber boys in World War II who brought the war to Hitler’s doorstep. The series is being written by “Band of Brothers” alumnus John Orloff, who is also a co-executive producer. (via Variety)

Spielberg is set to executive produce by way of his Amblin Television studio, and will partner with Hanks and Gary Goetzman for Playtone as part of the effort. Graham Yost, who served as a co-executive producer on BAND OF BROTHERS will do the same for the new series alongside Amblin TV’s Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey and Steven Shareshian of Playtone.

For those of you who're keeping count at home, MASTERS OF THE AIR is the second project to be set up at Apple TV Plus courtesy of Spielberg's Amblin Television label, this after the streamer landed Spielberg's AMAZING STORIES anthology series. For AMAZING STORIES, the goal is to "transport the audience to worlds of wonder through the lens of today’s most imaginative filmmakers, directors and writers." Now in charge of the otherworldly anthology series are Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz, creators of ABC's fairy tale-inspired fantasy drama ONCE UPON A TIME.