Summary
- Looney Tunes shorts will remain on Max, despite previous reports suggesting they would be removed by the end of the year.
- The initial listing of their removal was a mistake, causing public outcry directed at Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav.
- While the shorts are safe, the 2003 film Looney Tunes: Back in Action is still scheduled to be removed by the end of 2023.
Looney Tunes shorts will not be leaving Max, despite previous reports they would be removed from the platform by the end of the year. In a list sent out by Max titled “What’s New on Max This December,” the streamer listed classic Looney Tunes cartoons as leaving Max on December 31. This led to public outcry online, with many aiming their anger for the decision at Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav.
Now, TVLine reports that classic Looney Tunes shorts will not be leaving Max after all. The streamer sent out a correction, explaining their listing of the series for removal was an error. However, the 2003 film Looney Tunes: Back in Action is still slated for removal by the end of 2023.
Max previously removed 256 Looney Tunes shorts in December 2022.
Why Max Reportedly Removing Looney Tunes Shorts Caused A Massive Outcry
Looney Tunes cartoons have been a staple of Warner Bros. since the 1930s, with classic characters like Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck originating from their short films. Because of this, the franchise has become pseudonymous with its parent company. The reported removal of the well-remembered shorts caused an online outcry because of their historical importance to the studio’s creative history.
The reported removal also followed Warner Bros. shelving the upcoming Coyote vs. Acme movie from release on Max in early November. While the film will be shopped around to other streaming services, its original cancellation despite finishing production indicated even the company’s classic characters weren’t safe from having their projects axed. This made the removal of the shorts all the more plausible, leading to public backlash for the alleged decision.
However, it seems the classic Looney Tunes cartoons will not be leaving the streaming service, maintaining a spot on the platform beyond 2023. Even so, the outcry underscores how many consumers wouldn’t be surprised if the cartoons really had been removed. It remains to be seen what this scare will do for Warner Bros. and Max’s reputation, and what it means for other projects in the franchise that could be axed or removed.
Source: TVLine
