Over a year after the surprising decision to shelve the film adaptation of “Batgirl,” Warner Bros. is once again altering its release plans by putting another of its films, “Coyote Vs. Acme,” on indefinite hold. This live-action, CG animation hybrid completed principal photography in New Mexico last year, but will no longer see the light of day. The change in direction comes with the appointment of veteran animation executive Bill Damaschke as the head of Warner Animation Group earlier this year.
According to a spokesperson from WB Motion Picture Group, the studio has re-launched Warner Bros. Pictures Animation and shifted its global strategy to focus on theatrical releases. This new direction led to the difficult decision to halt the progress of “Coyote Vs. Acme,” although the studio expressed immense gratitude for the contributions of the filmmakers, cast, and crew.
The now-shelved film had notable talent involved, both in front of and behind the camera. WWE star John Cena, who is also part of the popular DC show “Peacemaker,” was set to star in the film, alongside involvement from DC Studios co-head James Gunn as a producer and story contributor. The movie was directed by Dave Green, and despite the setback, Warner Bros. is still keen on collaborating with the filmmaker on a project in development at sister movie arm New Line Cinema.
Originally greenlit in December 2020 as a production for HBO Max, Warner Bros. later scheduled a release date for “Coyote Vs. Acme” on July 21, 2023. However, as the studio shifted its focus to theatrical releases, the film’s future became uncertain. No trailer was ever released, and in April 2022, the feature was removed from the release calendar, with “Barbie” taking its place on the original date.
The film was inspired by Ian Frazier’s “Coyote v. Acme,” a humor article published by the New Yorker in 1990. Although “Coyote Vs. Acme” will not move forward, Warner Bros. Animation is still committed to releasing around two films a year. Upcoming projects include Locksmith Animation features such as “Bad Fairies” and “The Lunar Chronicles,” as well as several Dr. Seuss adaptations in the works. Bill Damaschke is looking to shift the focus of Warner Bros. Animation to strictly theatrical-worthy fare, including original movies and films based on the studio’s IP, such as Looney Tunes characters, to which Wile E. Coyote belongs.
This decision to shelve “Coyote Vs. Acme” follows a pattern at Warner Bros., as the studio previously put “Batgirl” and the animated feature “Scoob! Holiday Haunt” on hold in August 2022 for tax reasons. Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav sought $3 billion in savings across the conglomerate and opted to shift strategy in favor of theatrical releases, causing backlash within the creative community. However, sources indicate that in the case of “Coyote Vs. Acme,” the studio gave the filmmakers advance notice of the decision.
In conclusion, Warner Bros. has made the tough call to halt the progress of “Coyote Vs. Acme” and shift its focus to theatrical releases. While this may disappoint fans and the creative team behind the film, the studio remains committed to producing original and IP-based theatrical-worthy films through Warner Bros. Animation.
