On paper, Coyote vs. Acme seemed to be a home run for Warner Bros. Discovery, but the film’s likely cancelation is a huge blow to the Looney Tunes franchise. Although the Looney Tunes roster of characters remains iconic across pop culture, the characters haven’t had a terrific showcase in recent years. Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and the rest of those characters remain as timeless as ever, but their feature-length exploits in the 21st century have been lacking..
Their fortunes seemed set to change with Coyote vs. Acme. The decision by David Zaslav (who hadn’t even seen Coyote vs. Acme) to cancel the project sent shockwaves through the film industry. Other studios were potentially interested, but behind-the-scenes events in the film industry kept audiences from seeing the film. It’s a shame for many reasons, chief among them the fact that it could have been a welcome return for the Looney Tunes characters into the spotlight. However, it looks increasingly like Coyote vs. Acme will never be released, which is a huge blow to fans and the franchise alike.
Coyote Vs Acme Image Reveals First Look At Un-Cancelled Looney Tunes Movie
Coyote vs. Acme voice actor Eric Bauza shares the first look at the uncancelled Loony Tunes movie, teasing the live-action and animation combination.
The Looney Tunes Have A Bad Movie Record In The 21st Century
Looney Tunes’ Luck In The 21st Century Has Been Despicable
Looney Tunes has had a rough go at the box office in the 21st century, a trend that Coyote Vs. Acme seemed poised to break before it was canceled. Although plenty of television shows have adapted Bugs, Daffy, and the rest of the Looney Tunes for the modern era, the two films focused on the characters have been lackluster. The Brendan Fraser-led Looney Tunes: Back in Action received a mixed critical reaction but failed in movie theaters, ultimately unable to match its budget in ticket sales.
Things were even worse for Space Jam: A New Legacy, which bombed at the box office and suffered far harsher reviews than the original Space Jam. Considering their place in the hierarchy of Western animation, it’s frankly shocking that the Looney Tunes haven’t had better results on the big screen. Instead, the Looney Tunes characters have been largely kept to the world of television. Coyote vs. Acme had all the potential to change course for the franchise with a film that — by all accounts — seemed to be a potential hit for Warner Bros.
Coyote vs. Acme Sounds Like It Could Have Finally Been A Great Modern Looney Tunes Movie
Coyote Vs. Acme Could Have Brought Looney Tunes Back Into The Spotlight
Based on a comedy article written by Ian Frazier. for The New Yorker, Coyote vs. Acme would have focused on Wile E. Coyote finally taking the Acme company to court for all their inventions that have backfired on him over the years. Hiring a down-and-out lawyer (played by Will Forte) to represent him, the film looked to be equal parts legal parody and slapstick comedy. On top of seemingly perfecting the live-action/animation hybrid approach used in Space Jam and Looney Tunes: Back in Action, Coyote vs. Acme is reportedly very good, with many animation professionals championing it.
Certain members of the animation industry have seen it and largely reacted positively to the film. The LEGO Movie co-director Phil Lord noted on social media that the film was a success. The concept is one filled with comic potential, setting up comedy veterans like Forte and John Cena — who was cast as the lawyer opposing Coyote and Forte — to run afoul of the Acme products. The film also reportedly had a strong emotional core, with some like Lord it calling it a “moving” film. All in all, it seemed like a hit in the making.
Hit Horror Movie Director Says He Won’t Work With Warner Bros. After Coyote Vs Acme Debacle
After the Warner Bros. Discovery Coyote vs. Acme debacle, a hit horror director says he won’t work with the studio – revealing why it’s their loss.
Why Warner Bros. Discovery Isn’t Releasing Coyote vs. Acme
Why A Movie Studio Isn’t Releasing One Of Their Most Anticipated Movies
Warner Bros. Discovery has found that by refusing to release certain films, they can claim a tax loss. This was the fate of the canceled Batgirl and Scoob! Holiday Haunt, both of which were largely completed but will never see the light of day due to the decision to indefinitely postpone their release. This caused a commotion in the film industry, especially due to Warner Bros. refusing to alert the filmmakers before making the decision public. Although the studio claimed those were one-time events, the apparent cancelation of Coyote vs. Acme caused an even more severe uproar across Hollywood.
The studio will reportedly be able to claim a $30 million tax break by not releasing Coyote vs. Acme. On top of angering members of the film industry on pure principle, the few who did see one of the film’s limited screenings claimed it was one of the best modern approaches to Looney Tunes and a genuine crowd pleaser. Despite claiming they’d shop the film to other studios, Warner Bros. reportedly demanded $70 million for Coyote vs. Acme and refused to negotiate on cost. This might have quietly doomed the film.
Will Coyote vs. Acme Still Be Released?
A Slim Chance That Gets Slimmer With Every Passing Day
There is still no confirmed fate for Coyote vs. Acme. THR reported that Warner Bros. announced during a February earnings call that they’d taken a $115 Million write-down from their animation studio. Although they didn’t confirm this included Coyote vs. Acme, the write-down would account for Coyote vs. Acme’s $70 Million budget. While the lack of a formal confirmation means there’s still a possibility that the film ends up acquired by another source, this means there’s a good chance Coyote vs. Acme will never be released.
That would be a genuine shame, even beyond the inherent problem of all the hard work put in by the film’s cast and crew being hidden away to help the studio’s bottom line. The concept of Coyote vs. Acme was a genuinely hilarious one, with reports suggesting that it would have been a rousing and surprisingly heartwarming success. The film could have been the big return to prominence that the Looney Tunes franchise deserved. Sadly, it seems that Coyote vs. Acme may have finally fallen off the cliff once and for all.
