Last year, Warner Brothers abruptly shelved the movie Batgirl, even though it was already completed and ready for release. Reportedly, Batgirl was testing badly, so they just pulled it from release and took a 90 million dollar bath. Now they’re doing it again with Coyote vs. Acme. It was a live-action-animation hybrid starring John Cena, and it was slated for release on Max. The movie had a pretty small budget of just $30 million, but I guess the studio decided it was more advantageous to write it off as a loss. It was greenlit before David Zaslav became CEO.
[Warner Brothers] no longer plans to release “Coyote vs. Acme,” a live action-animation hybrid starring John Cena, which completed filming in 2022. A similar situation transpired a little over a year ago as Warner Bros. shocked the entertainment industry by shelving the $90 million-budgeted DC adventure “Batgirl” and the kid-friendly “Scoob! Holiday Haunt” as tax write-offs.
Those films, as well as the $30 million “Coyote vs. Acme,” were greenlit by the former regime, led by Jason Kilar and intended for release on HBO Max. His successor, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav, has shifted the studio’s priorities back to theatrical and felt this movie didn’t fit with the new creative direction of the company. The decision also comes after Bill Damaschke took over Warner Animation Group earlier this year.
“With the re-launch of Warner Bros. Pictures Animation in June, the studio has shifted its global strategy to focus on theatrical releases,” a Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group spokesperson said in a statement. “With this new direction, we have made the difficult decision not to move forward with ‘Coyote vs. Acme.’ We have tremendous respect for the filmmakers, casts and crew and are grateful for their contributions to the film.”
The movie might not have tested well, but that’s my speculation. I think there are still a lot of people who would have watched it for John Cena alone. The more likely scenario is that this is another tax write-off. Ultimately Warner Bros is showing every creative professional in Hollywood–actors, writers, directors–that they aren’t trustworthy. You can go through years of work to bring a movie to life, and they’ll just kill it for a tax write off. Who would choose to work with WB now? No wonder Christopher Nolan jumped ship. If Coyote vs. Acme was bad, and there were issues with the script, that’s something that should have been fixed while it was in development. The same goes for Batgirl. If there’s a story problem, fix it before the film goes into production, not after. From the outside it just looks like WB is setting up these projects to fail on purpose. David Zaslav is showing, once again, that he has no idea how to work with the creatives in his industry.
Had a lot of fun scoring Coyote Vs Acme. As no-one will be able to hear it now, due to bizarre anti-art studio financial shenanigans I will never understand, here is a bit of behind the scenes footage of our “Meep Meep” Roadrunner choir, with apologies to Tchaikovsky… pic.twitter.com/HL7h00rXpp
— Steven Price (@SteveBPrice) November 10, 2023
Photos credit: Maria Laura Antonelli / AGF Foto / Avalon and screenshots from classic Roadrunner episodes via YouTube
I’m wondering if they are trying to push James Gunn out. He wrote this and he’s supposed to be heading up the new DCEU films. I think Zazlav just isn’t able to handle the way Hollywood is built around longer timelines. That films are decided upon two years before they are released and that’s the way the business runs.
But whatever tax loopholes are being used for this need to be shutdown, or at least make the films public domain, because taxpayers have paid for them. Also, a lot of these crazy decisions are also being made because Zazlav’s bonuses are being determined by cash flow. Which means he makes more money when they aren’t releasing films. Hollywood is now spending as much on marketing a film as they did making it, which isn’t sustainable.
I really, really hope that one day Batgirl sees the light of day somehow. The fact that I can’t see it makes me want to see it so bad! And $90 million, that is absolutely crazy.
It’s got to be so depressing for every creative who worked on these films to learn that audiences will never see the product of their labor. I just don’t understand how not releasing benefits anyone, why can they just put them out on streaming???
Smh, there oughta be a law.
I feel for everyone that worked hard on the film that can’t be easy. But John Cena is the worst; a terrible actor, a boring personality, and just doesn’t seem like a nice person. He thought he could follow in Dwayne Johnsaon’s footsteps. But The Rock he is not! I wish they’d stop trying to make him happen.
The same man who does dozens of Make-A-Wishes bc he wants to isn’t nice?? You’re literally the only person who has ever said this & he’s not trying to be like Dwayne Johnson so your comment is just weird.
Just came here to comment the same thing. John Cena is the most requested “I wish to meet” person in all of Make a Wish and has granted the most wishes of any celebrity.
not only does he do a lot of make-a-wish visits, he holds the record for doing the most. and if you don’t think he’s a decent actor, i guess you haven’t seen the suicide squad or the peacemaker. he’s got pretty great comic timing, and is willing to be the villain and lose a fight, which the rock isn’t. i like the rock, but both cena and bautista are better wrestlers turned actors that dwayne johnson is (although i think DJ could have been so much better. back when he was still taking chances with his career, he did some fun stuff).
Sorry I repeated what you had already said while I was typing! He is a gem of a man.
Special make a wish shoutout for Jack Harlow too 🙂
Wow, your view of Jon Cena is absolutely bonkers. Jon Cena has charm and charisma in spades, he IS a decent actor, and has made more Make a Wish wishes come true than ANY other actor or athlete.
You are woefully misinformed
They said the movie tested really well so WBD shelving it was a surprise. The latest update this morning is WBD changed their minds due to the backlash and will allow the movie to be shopped around.
Yep, was testing well per industry pubs. So SO crappy & unfair to Cena & everyone else.
Based on that video I would have watched it for the score alone!
Cena has the WWE fandom so it would have pulled through he continues to be relevant…
This sucks yet another shelved movie. We should get to decide if we want to see it not the studio.
I love Coyote more than Roadrunner; I said what I said!