In 2022, Warner Bros. wrapped up filming on its newest live-action/CGI movie, Coyote vs. ACME. The film was set to star John Cena, Lana Condor, and Will Forte. Much to the shock and disappointment of those who worked on the film, on November 9, Warner Bros. announced that they were shelving the film, and it would not be released. The move sent shockwaves throughout the industry, just like when Warner Bros. also decided not to release its Batgirl movie in 2022.
Related: A New Harry Potter Series Is in the Works at HBO!
In a statement, a Warner Bros. spokesperson said that the studio was refocusing on theatrical releases. The film was originally made for HBO Max, but was then shifted to be a theatrical release. No details were given on what the film would be about.
However, one congressman is questioning the motives behind the Looney Tunes film's cancellation — and he is calling for a federal investigation.
Just days after Warner Bros. announcement, Texas Representative Joaquin Castro took to X (formerly Twitter) to blast the major studio.
The @WBD tactic of scrapping fully made films for tax breaks is predatory and anti-competitive.
As the Justice Department and @FTC revise their antitrust guidelines they should review this conduct.
As someone remarked, it’s like burning down a building for the insurance money.
The @WBD tactic of scrapping fully made films for tax breaks is predatory and anti-competitive.
As the Justice Department and @FTC revise their antitrust guidelines they should review this conduct.
As someone remarked, it’s like burning down a building for the insurance money. https://t.co/Vb8vj3brD7
— Joaquin Castro (@JoaquinCastrotx) November 14, 2023
Antitrust laws are in place to prevent companies from teaming up or merging in order to create unfair monopolies. Those same laws also prevent companies — not just film studios — from making moves that would eliminate fair competition.
This would not be the first time that Warner Bros. has shelved movies so they can use them as tax write-offs. Last year, they canceled Batgirl and Scoob!, and used the losses as write-offs. However, unlike Batgirl and Scoob!, Coyote vs. Acme was already complete and had even undergone audience test screenings. Moreover, the Wile E. Coyote film had done well with the test audiences.
The audience test scores were reportedly in the 90s, which made it all the more suspicious that the studio would shelve the project. Most film studios do not decide against releasing a film when it is almost guaranteed to be a hit.
With all the complaints and backlash, Warner Bros. received after the film's cancellation, the studio reversed its decision and said that it would be trying to sell the Looney Tunes film to another studio. They will also reportedly look at selling the film to a streaming service like Netflix or Amazon's Prime Video.
While the exact number is not known, it is thought that Warner Bros. spent about $70 million or more to make the Wile E. Coyote film. The studio giant is allowing the film's director Dave Green to shop the movie around, we do not know how much Warner Bros. will want to sell the movie for. If they are simply looking for a tax write-off, they may be willing to sell it for nearly the same amount of money it cost them to make it.
Do you hope that Warner Bros. sells Coyote vs. Acme so it will be released? Let us know in the comments!
