It seems the bad press heading Warner Bros. Discovery and CEO David Zaslav was just too great and the studio has reversed course on its decision to shelve Coyote vs Acme for tax write-off purposes.
Four days ago, word emerged that WB planned to cancel and store the film in the WB vault, never to be seen again in order to secure a $30 million dollar tax break. The film was said to have cost WB $70 million to make.
Over the weekend, the cast and crew for the film expressed outrage over the decision, with a number of other notable actors, directors, and screenwriters expressing outrage over the practice along with worry that it could become the norm.
Previously, Zaslav did something very similar with Batgirl and Scoob Holiday Haunt!, citing the COVID-19 pandemic as the catalyst for the decision with the prevailing thought being that the unusual circumstances of the pandemic is what led to what would be a one-off practice.
This time, with no pandemic to lay the blame on, Hollywood's creative community rallied to support Coyote vs Acme director Dave Green, screenwritersSamy Burch and James Gunn, along with composer Steven Price.
Originally set for release on Max, Green will now have the opportunity to shop the film to other streamers and networks.
Amazon previously inquired about purchasing the film but was initially rebuffed.
Now, WB is said to be holding a special screening for potential suitors, Apple TV+, Netflix, and Amazon, later this week. A theatrical release is not out of the realm of possibility.
According to reports, the story of the movie would see Wile E. Coyote from Looney Tunes file a lawsuit against the Acme company after using the company's products to try and capture Road Runner and failing for years.
The movie was a mix of animation and live-action, similar to Space Jam and Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Along with the Coyote and Road Runner, the film was set to star Will Forte, John Cena and Lana Condor.
Forte was set to play Wile E.'s lawyer, while Cena would have played Acme's CEO.
WBD still has another Looney Tunes movie in the pipline, Looney Tunes Movie, The Day the Earth Blew Up. Marketed as the first fully animated Looney Tunes film to be released in theaters, WB revealed at this year's American Film Market event that it expects to release the film in Q2 2024.
Another factor working in Coyote vs Acme's favor was the fact that the film was 100% complete, unlike Batgirl and Scoob Holiday Haunt! Yet, the director of Holiday Haunt! has since completed the film, prompting many to now wonder if a similar reversal could be handed down for that film.