Summary

  • Warner Bros has reportedly uncancelled Coyote vs. Acme after facing backlash and following tense behind-the-scenes discussions with the film's creatives.
  • The studio will apparently allow the film to be shopped to potential distributors, meaning it's not entirely out of the woods just yet.
  • This decision follows a trend of high-profile tax write-offs, including the cancellation of the Batgirl movie, due to larger changes within the streaming industry.

Coyote vs. Acme has now been uncancelled by Warner Bros, but the completed film isn't in the clear just yet. First announced in 2020, the film, which is directed by Dave Green and stars John Cena and Will Forte, was unceremoniously scrapped last week. The decision comes months after the planned Coyote vs. Acme summer release date and was quickly met with backlash online, including from Green and others involved in making the movie.

Now, per Matthew Belloni's Coyote vs. Acme cast. Green has not yet reacted to this development, but his tweet about the cancellation is included below:

Coyote vs. Acme's Cancellation Explained

Wile E. Coyote reading the Acme catalog

The decision to cancel Coyote vs. Acme is not without precedent. Warner Bros. CEO David Zaslav infamously cancelled the already-completed Batgirl movie (budgeted at $90 million) in August 2022 as a tax write-off. The decision, which was based on the apparent quality of the film, was met with a similar level of backlash online, but Warner Bros. held fast. Cancelled in the same month was Scoob!: Holiday Haunt, which hadn't yet completed production but concluded filming anyway after the announcement.

For Batgirl and the Scoob! sequel, the cancellations followed the merger between Warner Bros. and Discovery, forming what is now known as Warner Bros. Discovery. The films fell victim to post-merger restructuring efforts, which also included a host of show and movie removals from Max, but these efforts are part of a larger shift within the streaming industry.

During the streaming boom, when other companies were attempting to capitalize on the success that Netflix had long enjoyed, a host of streaming services were born. Companies poured billions into bolstering their respective services' libraries, with subscriber growth at any cost being the main goal. Now, however, as streaming growth slows and it becomes apparent that this unchecked spending is not sustainable, many streamers have shifted focus to profitability and reducing losses. Coyote vs. Acme was the latest casualty in this larger shift, but now, at least, the film still has a chance at a wide release.

Source: Puck