The company’s films will play in theatres for several weeks before being released on its streaming service, sources said. The first will be On the Rocks, directed by Sofia Coppola and starring Bill Murray and Rashida Jones, which is set for release in mid-2020. (Wall Street Journal)

Talking point: By following a more traditional release schedule, Apple hopes to avoid the tensions rival Netflix has stoked by trying to shorten—or eliminate—the window between its films’ theatrical and online releases. Theatre-owners hate that idea, wanting films to run in cinemas for at least 90 days before streaming. The issue bubbled over at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, during which Canadian theatre operator Cineplex refused to screen films from Netflix and Amazon. Netflix has agreed to release 10 films exclusively in theatres this fall before streaming them, a move that came after months of negotiations. For Apple, the decision isn’t driven by potential box office proceeds, sources told the Journal; the company hopes giving its movies wide theatrical release can help build its reputation as a creative studio.