Coyote vs. Acme, a Wile E. Coyote movie starring John Cena, has been permanently shelved by Warner Bros.
Per Deadline, Warner Bros. no longer has plans to release Coyote Vs. Acme despite the fact that the film completed principal photography last 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. 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.”
What do we know about Coyote Vs. Acme?
Announced by Warner Bros. Pictures in August 2018, Coyote Vs. Acme was going to be directed by Dave Green, while The Lego Batman Movie’s Chris McKay originally signed on to produce before he left the project in December 2020.
Based on a New Yorker article by Ian Frazier, Coyote vs. Acme’s script was written by James Gunn, Jeremy Slater, and Sammy Burch. The movie would’ve included both live-action and animated scenes. Cena signed on to play the antagonist in the film in February 2022, while Will Forte and Lana Condor joined the cast a short while later.
Per The Hollywood Reporter, the plot synopsis read, “The infamously hapless canine takes center stage in the story, which sees him sue the Acme Corporation for the not-quite-in-working-order devices he has received from them over the years in his quest to best his nemesis and potential meal, the Road Runner, as seen in the classic cartoons.”
Coyote Vs. Acme previously had a July 21, 2023, theatrical release date before it was taken off Warner Bros.’ release schedule in April 2022. Deadline’s article states that Warner Bros. will take an approximate $30 million tax write-off for shelving the movie.
Warner Bros. previously made headlines for shelving two nearly-completed movies, Scoob Holiday Haunt! and Batgirl.
