Apple TV drops 'Bonfire of the Vanities' series

Apple TV has decided not to move forward with the planned eight‑episode adaptation of Tom Wolfe’s 1987 novel *The Bonfire of the Vanities*. The project, developed by Warner Bros. Television with show‑runner David E. Kelley and director Matt Reeves, stalled after months of development because the parties were not creatively aligned and Kelley expressed dissatisfaction with how the series was handled.

Warner Bros. Television and David E. Kelley Productions will now shop the series to other buyers. Kelley remains partnered with Apple TV on two other series, *Margo’s Got Money Troubles* and *Presumed Innocent*. The adaptation was to explore the novel’s themes of greed, ambition and racial tension in 1980s New York City, and would have featured Reeves as both director and executive producer.

The cancellation reflects the challenges of aligning creative visions between streaming platforms and production studios, even for high‑profile literary adaptations.