Coyote vs. Acme (lost unreleased American legal live-action/animation comedy film; 2023)

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CoyoteVSAcmeFrontCover.jpeg

Cover for the 1996 novel version of Ian Frazier's Coyote vs. Acme.

Status: Lost

Coyote vs. Acme is an American legal comedy film directed by Dave Green that combines live-action and animation. The film was inspired by a 1990 article from The New Yorker, written by Ian Frazier titled "Coyote v. Acme," based on the character Wile E. Coyote and the Acme Corporation, both of which originate from Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies.

Development of the project kicked off in August 2018 with Chris McKay on board as producer and Jon and Josh Silberman tasked with writing the screenplay. Dave Green was appointed as director in December 2019, with Samy Burch, Jeremy Slater, and James Gunn joining the team in the following year. Cena, Forte, and Condor were cast in early 2022, and live-action filming took place in New Mexico from March to May 2022.

In November 2023, Warner Bros. Discovery decided to shelve Coyote vs. Acme to secure a $30 million tax write-off, marking it as the third film to be shelved by the studio, following Batgirl and Scoob! Holiday Haunt. In response to public outcry, Warner Bros. allowed the filmmakers to seek out other distribution options. However, by February 2024, after unsuccessful discussions with potential distributors, Warner Bros. Discovery was again contemplating shelving the film for tax loss purposes. As of March 2024, Samy Burch reported that discussions within Warner Bros. Discovery were still ongoing regarding the film's potential release.[1]

Plot

Following a series of mishaps in which every product from the Acme Corporation has failed Wile E. Coyote in his attempts to catch the Road Runner, a struggling human attorney takes on Wile E.'s case in a lawsuit against Acme. As their bond deepens, the unlikely duo becomes increasingly motivated to win the case. Their fight is complicated by the presence of the intimidating head of the lawyer's former law firm, who is now representing Acme.[2][3]

Cast

  • Will Forte as Wile E. Coyote's lawyer.
  • John Cena as the Acme Corporation's lawyer.
  • Lana Condor.
  • P.J. Byrne.[4]
  • Tone Bell.[5]
  • Martha Kelly.[5]
  • Eric Bauza as multiple characters from Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies.[6]

Release

Coyote vs. Acme was initially set for theatrical release on July 21, 2023, by Warner Bros. Pictures. However, on April 26, 2022, the studio unexpectedly pulled the film from its release schedule, favoring to replace it with Barbie.[7][8]

In November 2023, Warner Bros. officials announced that although the film had been completed, they would not release it, largely due to the company's preference for a tax loss estimated at around $30 million. Notably, the crew was not informed of this decision until after the film was finished, leading to widespread criticism from various sectors, including filmmakers and animation professionals. Many expressed their disappointment at the lost opportunity to present a well-received film, especially after positive feedback from test screenings. Director Dave Green articulately shared his sentiments and commitment to honoring the Looney Tunes legacy.[9][10] Just days later, on November 13, 2023, reports emerged that Warner Bros. Discovery reversed its cancellation and permitted the filmmakers to seek other distributors for the film. Companies like Amazon MGM Studios, Apple Studios, and Netflix showed interest in acquiring the distribution rights. However, during further discussions, although many institutions expressed interest, no firm offers were made right away.[11] By early 2024, a public image of the film was shared on social media by actor Eric Bauza. However, on February 9, it was reported that Warner Bros. rejected bids from Netflix, Amazon, and Paramount, as the company wanted between $75 million and $80 million for the film. Failing to achieve this target, there was talk of shelving the project again and claiming a tax loss, which led to unrest within the industry.[12][13][14] [15]

The situation continued to evolve, with a Warner Bros. spokesperson confirming the film's uncertain status while keeping the option open for acquisition. As conversations within Warner Bros. progressed, a social media campaign sprang up, with hashtags like #ReleaseCoyoteVsAcme and #SaveCoyoteVsAcme trending and expressing public and industry support for the film's release.[16][17][11][18][19]Industry figures who viewed Coyote vs. Acme expressed strong opinions about the film, with accolades from respected creators such as Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, and BenDavid Grabinski, who praised its quality and importance in cinematic history. Will Forte, who starred as Wile E. Coyote's lawyer, voiced his praises post-screening, emphasizing the hard work and dedication of the entire cast and crew.

As of late 2024, the film's future remains in limbo.[20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][21][30][31][22][32][33]

Gallery

Footage

A piece of music for the film

References

  1. ↑ "'Coyote vs. Acme' Writer Samy Burch Says Film May Still Be Released: Conversations Are 'Ongoing,' but We'd Be 'Heartbroken' If It's Shelved"
  2. ↑ "Will Forte Joins John Cena in Coyote vs. Acme for Warner Bros"
  3. ↑ "First Look Revealed for Resurrected Coyote vs. Acme Feature"
  4. ↑ "First Look Revealed for Resurrected Coyote vs. Acme Feature"
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Some great BTS stuff here! Love the shot of @lanacondor with a real Wile E. impact-crater. @MarthaKelly3 and @toneBell are hilarious! I have stories about every frame and if the movie gets released, I'll hopefully get to tell them. #ReleaseCoyoteVsAcme"
  6. ↑ "@DEADLINE has slightly bad intel (or just fact checkers), as Eric Bauza did NOT voice Wile E. Coyote; in the film, Wile is a silent character, and Eric plays several other roles. But that shouldn't stop you from supporting #releasecoyotevsacme ! #coyotevsacme"
  7. ↑ "Warner Bros. to Release Mad Max: Fury Road Prequel and The Color Purple Musical in Theaters in 2023"
  8. ↑ "Barbie Heads To Summer 2023 – CinemaCon"
  9. ↑ "Coyote Vs. Acme: Finished Live/Action Animated Pic Shelved Completely By Warner Bros As Studio Takes $30M Tax Write-off"
  10. ↑ "Coyote vs. Acme Crew Were Blindsided by Warner Bros. Killing Movie"
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Coyote Vs. Acme: Warner Bros Setting Up Screenings For Streamers Of Axed Looney Tunes Film; Amazon A Prime Candidate – The Dish"
  12. ↑ "Warner Bros. Reverses Course on Coyote vs. Acme After Filmmakers Rebel"
  13. ↑ "Scrapped Coyote Vs. Acme Film Teased in BTS Videos as Creatives Say Warner Bros. Is 'Anti-Art'"
  14. ↑ "Warner Bros. Shelves Fully-Completed Coyote Vs. Acme For Tax Write-Off"
  15. ↑ "Coyote vs. Acme Director Voices Out Disappointment Over Cancelation"
  16. ↑ "Warners Reverses Course in Coyote vs. Acme Fight"
  17. ↑ "Warner Bros. Will Let Coyote Vs. Acme Filmmakers Shop Movie to Other Distributors"
  18. ↑ "Coyote Vs. Acme: Warner Bros Setting Up Screenings For Streamers Of Axed Looney Tunes Film; Amazon A Prime Candidate – The Dish"
  19. ↑ "Rep. Joaquin Castro Calls Warner Bros. Discovery 'Predatory' for Shelving Coyote vs. Acme, Asks Justice Dept. to 'Review This Conduct'"
  20. ↑ "Has Coyote vs. Acme Sowed Distrust Between Warner Bros. and Creatives? Analysis"
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 "Coyote Vs. Acme: Paramount Circling; Amazon Still Possible Contender – The Dish"
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 "The Final Days of Coyote vs. Acme: Offers, Rejections and a Roadrunner Race Against Time"
  23. ↑ "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'"
  24. ↑ "Coyote Vs. Acme is probably getting scrapped anyway"
  25. ↑ "Coyote vs. Acme's Fate Might Have Been Sealed by Real Judge Doom David Zaslav"
  26. ↑ "Coyote vs. Acme's Latest Update Spells Very Bad News for Looney Tunes Movie"
  27. ↑ "Warner Bros. Reportedly Set to Shelve and Delete Coyote vs. Acme Film Once and for All"
  28. ↑ "As 'Coyote vs. Acme' Hangs in the Balance, Warner Bros. Discovery Takes $115M Write-Down on Mystery Projects"
  29. ↑ "'Coyote vs. Acme' Writer Samy Burch Says Film May Still Be Released: Conversations Are 'Ongoing,' but We'd Be 'Heartbroken' If It's Shelved"
  30. ↑ "Want to See This Film? Movie Studios Won't Let You"
  31. ↑ "The Final Days of Coyote vs. Acme: Offers, Rejections and a Roadrunner Race Against Time"
  32. ↑ "Coyote vs. Acme Star Shares New Images & Gratitude for Support From Fans"
  33. ↑ "Looney Tunes Star Pleads "Release Coyote vs. Acme" at Annie Awards: Watch"

External links

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