It’s a bummer to hear that Warner Bros. has decided to shelve “Coyote vs. ACME” after all the hard work that went into it. The movie, which is a mix of live-action and animation, was set to star Will Forte as a lawyer representing Wile E. Coyote in a lawsuit against the ACME Corporation. It had finished shooting and even scored well at test screenings, so it’s a real shame to see it not getting released.
According to reports by The Hollywood Reporter, Warner Bros. decided to shelve the movie as a tax write-off as part of their new global strategy focusing on theatrical releases. This decision has caused the studio to take a $30 million write-down on the movie, which had a production budget of $70 million. This means it’s not worth it for Warner Bros. to release the film in theaters or to sell it to other buyers, despite there being interested parties.
Director Dave Green took to Twitter to express his disappointment in Warner Bros.’ decision, stating that he and his team poured their souls into the project for years and were determined to honor the legacies of the iconic characters. He mentioned that they received fantastic scores from test audiences and that he was proud of the final product, making the decision especially devastating.
It’s certainly a tough blow for the filmmakers, cast, and crew who put so much effort into the project. It’s always disheartening to see hard work go unrecognized, especially when it comes down to financial considerations. With the new focus on theatrical releases, it seems that Warner Bros. had to make some tough decisions, and unfortunately, “Coyote vs. ACME” was one of the casualties.
This isn’t the first time Warner Bros. has had to make such decisions. Just recently, they shelved the “Batgirl” movie for similar reasons. It’s a reminder that even in the world of entertainment, there are real-world financial considerations that can have a significant impact on creative projects.
It’s a real shame to see “Coyote vs. ACME” get shelved, especially after all the positive feedback it received. But as director Dave Green mentioned, the spirit of resilience and persistence embodied by Wile E. Coyote himself may ultimately prevail. Here’s hoping that the talented individuals involved in the project find new opportunities to bring their creative visions to life.
