A year after Warner Bros. decided to shelve Batgirl — to outcry from the public and the film’s own crew — the studio once again decided to ax another completed film project: Coyote vs. Acme.
The live-action/animation hybrid starring John Cena and Lana Condor was originally intended for Max before it was given a theatrical release date of July 21. But Greta Gerwig’s Barbie ended up taking the summer slot. After no update on its premiere or even a trailer, The Hollywood Reporter learned the studio would can the entire $70 million project and use it as an estimated $30 million tax write-off.
The news broke on Thursday and a well-placed source tells Rolling Stone that director Dave Green and top producers were only informed after Warner Bros. already underwent the process of writing off the movie. While there was interest from outside buyers, the source says, Warner Bros made clear that the movie was not for sale. (Warner Bros. did not respond to a request for comment.)
The studio publicly blamed the decision on a “shift [in] its global strategy to focus on theatrical releases” in light of relaunching its animation department in June. But the film was testing positively with audiences — 14 points above the norm for a family film, a source reveals.
“Warner Bros. is a mess,” they say. “They obviously are carrying this staggering debt. They probably have certain minimums and obligations they must owe their creditors, which are motivating them to make bizarre choices. They’re just not in sync with how the business has been run. It’s devilishly destructive.”
“Quite honestly, we thought it was a slam dunk,” says another production source. “I think that’s what’s so deflating and frustrating. I just don’t get it because it’s sitting there and none of us get to see something that’s so fun and enjoyable.”
This film was me for the last two and a half years. It will always be a part of me. I even got a Wile E. Coyote tattoo on my right arm the week we delivered the movie before I left London — to remind me of the challenges we face while we pursue our goals. This erasure hurts on a personal level.
The news is a blow to the cast and crew who years developing the film based on Looney Tunes’ Wile E. Coyote and The New Yorker humor article “Coyote v. Acme” by Ian Frazier. Luckily, they will be given the chance to see the movie during a special screening next week in Los Angeles, Rolling Stone has learned.
“I am beyond proud of the final product, and beyond devastated by WB’s decision,” Green said in a statement Thursday evening. “For three years, I was lucky enough to make a movie about Wile E. Coyote, the most persistent, passionate, and resilient character of all time. I was surrounded by a brilliant team, who poured their souls into this project.”
One crew member says they only learned of the decision when contacted by Rolling Stone for comment. “I am disappointed,” one production member says. “I was looking forward to seeing all our hard work come to life.”
The film’s editor, Carsten Kurpanek. tells Rolling Stone that he and his team are “heartbroken” by the news, giving a special thanks to the VFX team, animators, supervisors, and assistants who all worked to bring the project to life. “As artists, we pour ourselves into these projects,” Kurpanek says. “This film was me for the last two and a half years. It will always be a part of me. I even got a Wile E. Coyote tattoo on my right arm the week we delivered the movie before I left London — to remind me of the challenges we face while we pursue our goals. This erasure hurts on a personal level.”
“With this write-off, everything gets deleted, not just what you see on screen, but everything that it took to make the film,” Kurpanek adds. “A released movie is just the tip of a giant iceberg of love and labor. The talent and commitment of the people who bring a project to life should not go unnoticed… All of it is now lost but will never be forgotten by those lucky enough to have been there.
The film’s composer, BAFTA-winner Steven Price, tweeted he was “disappointed and somewhat mystified” by the decision, before sharing a behind-the-scenes look of a choir performing a rendition of Road Runner’s iconic “Meep Meep.”
It comes as the studio’s parent company Warner Bros. Discovery and its CEO David Zaslav are looking to slash costs among its various companies to find $3 billion in savings. Deadline reported the Coyote vs. Acme tax write-off was applied to the recent Q3 report. Last year, Warner Bros. made the then-unprecedented decision to shelve the estimated $90 million Batgirl after shooting was completed, blindsiding cast members. Scoob! Holiday Haunt was also given the chop.
