Coyote vs. Acme contained a very interesting premise for a film. It’s essentially a hybrid live-action and animated film like Space Jam (1996). Just like Space Jam, this film also featured an oddball comedy plot. This time though, it featured the titular Wile E. Coyote after his umpteenth time trying to use an Acme gadget to catch the elusive Roadrunner, and just like the previous times, he fails miserably. At his wit’s end, Mr. Coyote finally decides to do something reasonable for a change: sue Acme for their blatantly defective products, hiring an attorney in the process.

Like I said: Coyote vs. Acme has a very interesting story. One of the most interesting Warner Bros. has churned out in a while, really. Too bad all because of Warner Bros.’s greedy machinations, we will never be able to see this film. Just like we will never be able to see Batgirl and Scoob! Holiday Haunt.

Coyote vs. Acme: Never-to-be-Released Details

The Hollywood Reporter has just broken the news that Warner Bros. has just shelved yet another completed film. This time, they have inflicted this fate upon Coyote vs. Acme. This hybrid live-action and animation film directed by Dave Green and starring Will Forte, John Cena, and Lana Condor originally had a theatrical release date of July 21, 2023. However, April 26, 2022 saw Warner Bros. replace that release date with Barbie instead. Now, this isn’t so bad in of itself considering how immensely popular Barbie proved to be. Alas, the fact that release date replacement turned out to be a prelude to its current shelving leaves a bitter taste in one’s mouth.

With the shelving of Coyote vs. Acme, this will be Warner Bros.’s third film to suffer this fate. Batgirl and Scoob! Holiday Haunt both in August 2022 suffered this same exact fate, and all for the same reason: tax writedowns. Warner Bros. stood to gain $3 billion in savings from the shelvings, so it’s obvious that’s what they’d do. According to Deadline, this shelving of Coyote vs. Acme earned Warner Bros. $30 million in savings. An extra $30 mil in tax writedowns must be far more attractive than actually releasing anything.

Tune back in to THS later to find out more about Coyote vs. Acme and any future Warner Bros.’s film shelvings when we do. Because at this rate, you can bet that Warner Bros. will continue doing this.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline