The Banker was supposed to premiere at the American Film Institute’s festival in Los Angeles, Apple yanked the movie while it looks into “some concerns surrounding the film.” Based on a true story about two black men in the 1960s who built up a real estate and banking empire by using a white man as the face of the enterprise. The film was originally due to have its premiere on Thursday, on the closing night of AFI Fest in Hollywood, ahead of its theatrical release on December 6th.
We purchased The Banker earlier this year as we were moved by the film’s entertaining and educational story about social change and financial literacy. Last week some concerns surrounding the film were brought to our attention. We, along with the filmmakers, need some time to look into these matters and determine the best next steps. In light of this, we are no longer premiering The Banker at AFI Fest.
With a cast that includes Anthony Mackie, Samuel L. Jackson, Nicholas Hoult, and Nia Long, The Banker is one of the highest profile films acquired by Apple for its streaming service. It was originally due to arrive on the streaming service early next year, but these plans are reportedly on hold pending an investigation by Apple.
