John Cena ‘Coyote vs. Acme’ film potentially saved following backlash
John Cena's 'Coyote vs. Acme' film could still end up being released.
Reports surfaced on Friday that Warner Bros. did not intend to release the film in favor of taking a $30 million tax write-off. The movie is estimated to have cost $70-72 million to make.
However, Puck News is reporting Warner Bros. will now allow the filmmakers to shop the movie to other potential distributors. The change of course reportedly occurred after "some heated back-and-forth" between the studio and reps for the cast and crew as well as an "online outcry by filmmakers and the animation community."
Amazon Prime, Apple, and Netflix are reportedly interested in acquiring the film from Warner Bros.
Director Dave Green and the film's producers were only informed Warner Bros was not releasing the film after the company had undergone the process of writing it off, Rolling Stone reports.
“Warner Bros. is a mess,” a "well-placed" source for Rolling Stone stated. “They obviously are carrying this staggering debt. They probably have certain minimums and obligations they must owe their creditors, which are motivating them to make bizarre choices. They’re just not in sync with how the business has been run. It’s devilishly destructive.”
The fully completed film received above-average scores from test audiences, Deadline reports. The outlet also wrote that plans to scrap the project were "another maneuver by the David Zaslav-run Warner Bros. Discovery to kill movies."
'Coyote vs. Acme' is a live-action hybrid in the style of Who Framed Roger Rabbit or Space Jam. The cast included Will Forte as Wile E. Coyote and Jeff Bergman as Bugs Bunny.