Tom Hanks has spoken candidly about his frustration with Apple TV over the handling of his 2020 World War II drama Greyhound, a project he wrote, produced and starred in as a passion piece rooted in his long-standing interest in the conflict. Originally intended for a theatrical release through Sony, the film was sold to Apple during the pandemic and released exclusively on streaming, a shift Hanks described as "an absolute heartbreak" due to the drop in picture and sound quality compared with a cinema experience.

Hanks also revealed that Apple dictated aspects of the film's promotional tour, instructing him to conduct interviews against a plain, muted backdrop even when speaking from his own home office, which he said made him feel part of a "witness protection programme." He referred to the company as "cruel whipmasters" while acknowledging he had no real choice but to comply. Despite the ordeal, Hanks continued working extensively in streaming afterwards, reuniting with Apple on the film Finch and later signing an exclusive development deal between his Playtone company and Apple Studios in 2022, which reportedly includes plans for a Greyhound sequel.