Warner Bros. recently signed a lucrative first-look film deal with Margot Robbie’s production company LuckyChap. This comes just months after the studio shelved the upcoming Looney Tunes film Coyote vs. Acme, sparking outrage amongst fans.
The new deal with Robbie, producer of Warner Bros.’ highest-grossing film ever Barbie, seems at odds with the controversy over Coyote vs. Acme. So will John Cena fans ever get to see the scrapped film?
Why Was Coyote vs. Acme Shelved?
As per The Wrap, Coyote vs. Acme was set to star John Cena as Wile E. Coyote alongside the classic Looney Tunes characters. The live-action/animated film had consistently positive reactions from test audiences. Yet in November 2022, Warner Bros. abruptly announced they were canceling the movie’s release due to a “shifting global strategy.”
BREAKING: Warner Bros. has signed a first-look deal with Margot Robbie’s LuckyChap banner even though everyone here on Twitter is under the impression that filmmakers don’t want to work with WB anymore because they aren’t going to release a Looney Tunes movie starring John Cena.
— Jeff Sneider (@TheInSneider) February 12, 2024
The decision baffled even the film’s producers. Public outcry led Warner Bros. to backtrack and allow the filmmakers to shop the finished film to other studios. But the offers apparently didn’t meet Warner Bros.’ demands.
Producer Chris DeFaria told TheWrap that a Warner Bros. executive recently said “They just want to get this behind them. They want to close the books.” With the studio’s next earnings call approaching, sources believe Coyote vs. Acme will simply be deleted from Warner Bros.’ books.
What Does Margot Robbie’s Deal Mean?
Meanwhile, Warner Bros. has proudly trumpeted a new deal with Margot Robbie’s LuckyChap production banner. Robbie’s Barbie film was a massive hit for the studio just last year.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the contrast has fueled more anger from Coyote vs. Acme supporters. But Robbie’s deal could actually be good news for the film. LuckyChap is known for “fighting for projects and filmmakers they believe in,” which the shelving of Coyote vs. Acme clearly goes against. As part of Warner Bros.’ inner circle now, could LuckyChap throw the Coyote a lifeline?
Will John Cena Fans Ever See Coyote vs. Acme?
At the moment, hopes are dimming for Coyote vs. Acme just as Robbie cements her partnership with Warner Bros. But if enough fans keep demanding #SaveCoyoteVsAcme, the studio may have no choice but to listen. The lucky Looney Tunes could end up revived after all. Fans are furious about Robbie’s decision, here are a few fan reactions:
I’m starting a GoFundMe to buy the Looney Tunes movie from WB. Who’s in?
— BB-25 Zingdroid (@esselgee) February 12, 2024
I hope Zaslav sees this bro
— what do you want from me (@doingrealtime) February 12, 2024
— Paul Douglas Moomjean 🧢 (@themoomabides) February 12, 2024
He fucked off batgirl when people said it was good
He wants to merge with paramount to put more debt on both companies
AND he’s deleting a looney tunes flim that looks good but of course people don’t care do they— patrick neville (@thePatrickNEV) February 12, 2024
The shelving of Coyote vs. Acme has wider implications as well. It represents Warner Bros. Discovery’s shift away from mid-budget theatrical releases in favor of high-profile streaming content and major blockbuster films.
Sources say that deleting a finished film like Coyote vs. Acme sets a dangerous precedent, making it an “acceptable means of dealing with a problem” in executives’ eyes. This jeopardizes future projects that don’t fit neatly into WBD’s revised strategy.
Animators and animation fans have also raised concerns. Scrapping a rare hand-drawn animated film with mass appeal deals a blow to an art form that is already struggling in the age of computer animation. The Animation Guild spoke out against the Coyote vs. Acme cancellation and what it means for preserving traditional techniques.
So while John Cena fans clamor for their Looney Tunes fix, the implications reach across Warner Bros. Discovery and the animation industry. LuckyChap may be Coyote vs. Acme’s last hope, but its revival would reverberate far beyond just pleasing viewers. It would prove that fan passion and art still have a place, even in the cold calculations of Hollywood studios today.