Please note that this film has been discussed in the media for the past few weeks. Any questionable information must be backed up by a reliable source, or they may be reverted without notice.
Coyote vs. Acme is an unscheduled live-action and animated hybrid film directed by Dave Green, based on the Wile E. Coyote cartoons and Ian Frazier's 1990 magazine article of the same name.
On 9 November 2023, it was announced that the film would be shelved as a tax write-off. However, the studio later allowed the filmmakers to sell the film to other distributors, following backlash to the decision. The studio rejected all bids, stating they were too low, and in February 2024, the film went into limbo again.[1]
Plot
After ACME products fail him one too many times in his dogged pursuit of Road Runner, Wile E. Coyote hires a billboard lawyer to sue the ACME Corporation. The case pits Wile E. and his lawyer against the latter's intimidating former boss, but a growing friendship between man and cartoon stokes their determination to win.
Cast
- John Cena[2]
- Will Forte[3]
- Lana Condor[3]
- Eric Bauza
- Candi Milo as Granny, Witch Hazel, Miss Prissy
Cancelled release plans
It was set to be released on 21 July 2023 to theaters in the United States until it was taken off the release schedule, with Barbie taking over the original release date.[4][5] On 9 November 2023, it was announced that the film had been shelved as a tax write-off, despite production having been completed, due to the realignment of Warner Bros. Pictures Animation, with the company taking an estimated $30 million write-down.[6][7] Although the film tested well with audiences, it was told it would not be offered to other companies. The decision was met with backlash by the production team and filmmakers.[8][9]
On 13 November, it was announced Warner Bros. would allow the filmmakers to sell the film to other distributors and had set up screenings that week for Amazon, Apple, and Netflix for a potential acquisition of the film.[10][11]
On 7 and 8 December, it was announced that Netflix reportedly offered less than half of the film's budget cost and was turned down,[12] and Paramount had made a bid with a theatrical release plan for 2024. Amazon remained interested, and Sony and Apple did not make any bids.[13]
On 9 February 2024, it was reported that Warner Bros. had declined the offers from Netflix, Paramount, and Amazon. The studio was seeking $75–$80 million from a buyer, but the bids were lower than that price (between $30–$50 million), and the film is expected to be shelved permanently.[14][15]
Videos
Notes
- This is the sixth live-action/animated hybrid film produced by Warner Bros. Pictures Animation (formerly Warner Animation Group), after The LEGO Movie, The LEGO Ninjago Movie, The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part, Tom & Jerry, and Space Jam A New Legacy.
- This is the eleventh feature film in the franchise and the fifth to be a live-action/animated hybrid.
Images
References
- ↑ https://www.theringer.com/movies/2024/2/12/24070471/coyote-vs-acme-movie-canceled-new-yorker-article-news-warner-wbd-zaslav
- ↑ Kroll, Justin (16 February 2022). John Cena To Star In 'Looney Tunes' Live-Action, Animated Hybrid Pic 'Coyote vs. Acme'. Deadline. Retrieved on 16 February 2022.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Kroll, Justin (9 March 2022). Will Forte And Lana Condor To Co-Star With John Cena In Looney Tunes Live-Action/Animated Hybrid Pic 'Coyote Vs. Acme'. Deadline. Retrieved on 9 March 2022.
- ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (23 December 2020). Warner Bros. Dates Three Pics For 2023 Theatrical Release (Not HBO Max): 'Furiosa', 'Coyote Vs. Acme' & 'The Color Purple'. Deadline. Retrieved on 23 December 2020.
- ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (26 April 2022). 'Barbie' Heads To Summer 2023 – CinemaCon. Deadline. Retrieved on 26 April 2022.
- ↑ Kit, Borys; Couch, Aaron (9 November 2023). Warner Bros. Shelves John Cena's 'Coyote Vs. Acme' Movie a Year After It Completed Filming (Exclusive). The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved on 9 November 2023.
- ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (9 November 2023). 'Coyote Vs. Acme': Warner Bros Shelves Finished Live-Action/Animated Pic Completely As Studio Takes $30M Tax Write-off. Deadline. Retrieved on 11 November 2023.
- ↑ Roth, Emma (10 November 2023). Warner Bros. Discovery just canned another nearly finished film. The Verge. Retrieved on 11 November 2023.
- ↑ Roundtree, Cheyenne (10 November 2023). 'Coyote vs. Acme' Crew Were Blindsided by Warner Bros. Killing Movie. Rolling Stone. Retrieved on 11 November 2023.
- ↑ Belloni, Matthew (13 November 2023). Warners Reverses Course in 'Coyote vs. Acme' Fight. Puck. Retrieved on 13 November 2023.
- ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (13 November 2023). 'Coyote Vs. Acme': Warner Bros Setting Up Screenings For Streamers Of Axed Looney Tunes Film; Amazon A Prime Candidate – The Dish. Deadline. Retrieved on 13 November 2023.
- ↑ Belloni, Matthew (7 December 2023). What I'm Hearing: Shari, Ellison, RedBird & Paramount. Puck. Retrieved on 8 December 2023.
- ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (8 December 2023). 'Coyote Vs. Acme': Paramount Circling; Amazon Still Possible Contender – The Dish. Deadline. Retrieved on 8 December 2023.
- ↑ Taylor, Drew (9 February 2024). The Final Days of 'Coyote vs. Acme': Offers, Rejections and a Roadrunner Race Against Time | Exclusive. TheWrap. Retrieved on 9 February 2024.
- ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (9 February 2024). 'Coyote Vs. Acme': With Pic's Fate In Limbo At Warners, Phil Lord Observes, "How Funny It Would Be For This To End With A Congressional Hearing". Deadline. Retrieved on 9 February 2024.
| The Looney Tunes films |
|---|
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| Daffy Duck's Movie: Fantastic Island | Daffy Duck's Quackbusters |
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| Space Jam | Looney Tunes Back in Action | Space Jam A New Legacy |
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