Spielberg, Tom Hanks Set 'Band of Brothers' Follow-Up for Apple

Deadline is reporting that Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Television and Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman’s Playtone have made a deal with Apple for a limited event limited series based on the Donald L. Miller book Masters of the Air: America’s Bomber Boys Who Fought the Air War Against Nazi Germany. 

As a Spielberg and Hanks lover -- plus a history buff -- I cannot wait for their follow-up to Band of Brothers. 

Masters of the Air chronicles the history of the American Eighth Air Force in World War II. The source material tells the true story of the American bomber boys during the war that "brought the war to Hitler's doorstep," according to a description on Amazon.

The more important part of this project is the marquee names attached as Apple brings their pedigree to the streaming wars. Working with the world's most famous director and actor will surely turn heads and garner subscribers. And this is Apple's second series from Spielberg, their first was the revival of the anthology series Amazing Stories that ran on NBC during the 1980s. 

Air was in development at HBO as a follow up to their previous WWII hits, Brothers and The Pacific, before Apple swooped in and grabbed it. 

"After careful consideration, HBO decided not to move forward with Masters of the Air. We look forward to our next collaboration with Playtone and Amblin," HBO said in a statement to CNN.

It seems that like Netflix and Amazon, Apple is working to lure huge names in the hope that star power alone with be a big enough draw for new subscribers.  Only time will tell...