‘Coyote vs. ‘Acme’: Warner Bros Completes Live-Action/Animated Film As Studio Writes Off $30M In Taxes

In another movie-killing move by the David Zaslav-led Warner Bros. Discovery, we learn from very good sources that Warner Bros. will not release the live-action/animated hybrid film. Coyote vs Acme, with the Conglom writing off an estimated $30 million on the $70 million production. We assume the photo fee was applied in the recently reported third quarter.

This is the third time that Zaslav’s Warner Bros. pulling the plug on a film greenlit by the previous Warner Media administration, the other two being the film intended for Max. Batgirl and the animated one Scoob Vacation Destination!

The difference here is this Coyote vs. Acme is a finished film with very good test results, 14 points above the family norm. We’re told the cash-strapped Warners don’t think the cost of a theatrical release or sale to other buyers is worth it (and there are those interested in their own streaming services; we’ve heard Amazon is on its knees). After reporting a mixed third quarter, a tax write-off is the best bet for Warner’s money. At a certain moment, Coyote vs. Acme was dated for a theatrical release on July 21, 2023 before it was withdrawn; This date was one of Warner Bros. ‘s ultimate hits of all time, and grossed $1.4 billion. Barbie.

“With the relaunch of Warner Bros. Pictures Animation in June, the studio changed its global strategy to focus on theatrical releases. With this new direction, we made the difficult decision not to continue Coyote vs. Acme. “We have great respect for the filmmakers, cast and crew and are grateful for their contributions to the film,” a Warner Bros. spokesman said.

How ironic: Zaslav was involved in securing a new three-year agreement between AMPTP and the SAG-AFTRA guild with exhibition and the Burbank studio hungry for theatrical productions in 2024, with several titles postponed and gaps created. There is definitely money to be made from a finished film based on a Looney Tunes IP. The sequel of 2021 Space Jam: A New Legacy During the pandemic, ticket sales were pulled from Max by the previous Warner Media administration’s theatrical day-and-date model. Still, the film earned $70.5 million domestically and another $93.1 million overseas, for a worldwide gross of $163.6 million.

I was told a maximum starting from Coyote vs. Acme is not a good platform for the film. There was a lot of buzz surrounding Gary Dauberman directing and James Wan producing a Stephen King film Salem’s property, once intended for a theatrical release, goes to Max because they need product due to the strike-related inventory shortage. Warners says so Salem’s property that the jury is still out and they haven’t decided on the fate of the vampire statue. Still, King is a household name at the box office, and this is one of his classics. And the horror looks vivid in the BO after the pandemic. Sure, a minimum box office of $10 million isn’t the worst thing in the world for a film planned for Max, but it depends on whether Warners wants to spend $40 million on marketing costs.

Director: David Green, Screenplay: May December Writer Samy Burch and DC Studios co-heads James Gunn and Jeremy Slater, Coyote vs. Acme based on the Looney Tunes characters and the Resident of New York Humor article “Coyote v. Acme” by Ian Frazier. Will Forte, John Cena and Lana Candor star in the film about Wile E. Coyote, who, after ACME products let him down one too many times in his persistent pursuit of the Roadrunner, decides to create a billboard, to hire a lawyer to sue ACME Corporation. The case pits Wile E. and his lawyer (Forte) against his intimidating former boss (Cena), but ‘ A growing friendship between man and cartoon drives their determination to win.

Director Green is still working with Warners on another project in the works at New Line.

Since the relaunch in June, Warner Bros. picture animation under new Zaslav manager increases to two pictures per year from 2026. The division recently announced a partnership with Locksmith Animation. Evil fairies And The Lunar Chronicles currently in development, along with feature-length animated films based on the popular Dr. Seuss classic Cat in the hat and an animated musical adaptation of Oh, the places you go!.