COYOTE VS. ACME Star Sad Audiences Will Never See ‘Incredible’ Movie
By Movieguide® Contributor
COYOTE VS. ACME’s lead actor, Will Forte, announced Tuesday that he’s disappointed that no one will ever see the mixed animation and real-life adaptation of the LOONEY TUNES classic.
“I know that a lot of you haven’t gotten a chance to see our movie. And sadly, it’s looking like you never will,” Forte said in a letter addressed to the movie’s cast and crew.
Before the actor watched the movie, he thought it must be “a hunk of junk” due to the news that it wouldn’t be released.
“But then I saw it,” he said. “And it’s incredible.”
“Super funny throughout, visually stunning, sweet, sincere, and emotionally resonant in a very earned way,” he continued. “As the credits rolled, I just sat there thinking how lucky I was to be a part of something so special. That quickly turned to confusion and frustration. This was the movie they’re not going to release?”
He explained that he doesn’t comprehend Hollywood’s business decisions. But just because the movie won’t go to American screens, it doesn’t mean it’s “anything less than magnificent.”
“You would be so proud of it — a movie that should be seen, but won’t,” he said. “Please know that all the years and years of hard work, dedication and love that you put into this movie shows in every frame. “
He finished his statement with the signature LOONEY TUNES farewell: “That’s all folks…Will Forte.”
To the cast and crew of Coyote vs Acme… pic.twitter.com/UdttuEs9J7
— Will Forte (@OrvilleIV) February 29, 2024
Deadline reported, “The last we checked in with Warners, the door wasn’t 100% closed on COYOTE VS. ACME, however, they had already taken a $70M writedown on the completed feature in Q3 earnings. The movie was greenlit by the previous Warner Bros administration before Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy for around $70M-$80M.”
“Given the fierce cost-cutting environment at Warner Bros Discovery, and the emphasis that anything motion picture wise has to be a hit (their co-production DUNE: PART TWO is eyeing a $170M start this weekend worldwide), it was decided that COYOTE VS. ACME wasn’t worth marketing and releasing for the big screen, nor was it prudent to put the movie on streaming service Max,” Deadline continued.
While Forte thinks highly of the movie, The Wrap reported on Feb. 9 that Warner Bros. top execs “were apparently prepared to trash a movie that they’d never even watched.”
Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group CEOs and co-chairpersons Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy only saw the director’s cut. The Warner Bros. Pictures president, Bill Damaschke, only saw the first audience preview. And President of Warner Bros. Discovery David Zaslav never saw anything.
Per Deadline, Warner Bros. held an auction for the movie, but Netflix, Paramount and others didn’t bid high enough to reach Warner’s desired price of $70m.
In November, Movieguide reported that fans were upset that LOONEY TUNES might stop streaming on Max after the cancellation of COYOTE VS. ACME was announced:
Deadline reported, “LOONEY TUNES was included in error as a title leaving the platform,’ read the statement clarifying the status of the classic shorts. ‘This is not the case and the show will continue streaming on Max.’”
…Variety also reported, “Many [fans were] infuriated at Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav for seemingly stripping Max of LOONEY TUNES content after his recent decision to scrap the LOONEY TUNES movie COYOTE VS. ACME despite filming being already completed.”
This isn’t the only cartoon-inspired film that Warner Bros. has scrapped recently. The company also threw out BATGIRL and SCOOB! HOLIDAY HAUNT.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
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Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
