Summary
- Director Brian Duffield’s refusal to work with Warner Bros. following the cancelation of Coyote vs. Acme may cost the studio a significant $300 million loss.
- The studio’s reputation has been severely damaged due to their recent tax write-down, which includes the shelving of Batgirl and Scoob! Holiday Haunt.
- Apple, Netflix, and Prime Video are among the streaming platforms interested in acquiring Coyote vs. Acme, highlighting the potential success of the film outside of Warner Bros.
A hit horror movie director has revealed he will not work with Warner Bros. following the controversy surrounding Coyote vs. Acme, indicating it will cost the studio hundreds of millions of dollars. The Looney Tunes film starring Coyote was originally scheduled for release in 2023 before Warner Bros. announced it would be shelved so they could get a $30 million tax write-down. After public outcry, the studio allowed the film to be shopped to other distributors. However, this hasn’t quelled distrust in the studio among Hollywood creatives.
Now, Brian Duffield, director of 2023’s hit horror thriller No One Will Save You says he will not work with Warner Bros. after Coyote vs. Acme‘s release was canceled.
The director indicated his decision not to work with Warner Bros. will result in the studio missing out on $300 million in profits. His statement underscores just how badly damaged the studio’s reputation is because of their most recent tax write-down.
Studios currently interested in acquiring Coyote vs. Acme include Apple, Netflix, and Prime Video.
Why Warner Bros. Has Been Shelving Major Releases
If the film manages to find success at a new home, then it will depict Wile E. Coyote hiring a lawyer to sue Acme Corporation for the defective weapons they sell him to catch Road Runner with. Coyote vs. Acme‘s cast sees Will Forte as Wile and John Cena as Acme’s CEO, underscoring how a talented cast brought the film to life. While the movie’s future seems positive thanks to interest from other streamers, Duffield’s comments indicate Warner Bros.’ decision has lost it some goodwill with creatives.
The film’s initial write-down from the studio isn’t the first, with Batgirl and Scoob! Holiday Haunt being some other prominent films that were shelved despite almost being complete. These decisions are tax-based, as Warner Bros. wants to ensure the studio’s profitability, even if it means axing near-finished products. However, its most recent decision indicates any movie could be on the chopping block at any stage of development, making creatives wary of working with a studio that could cancel their finished film.
While Warner Bros. has averted collapse before, reports from employees in October 2023 indicated the studio could be bought out by a rival in the coming years. With distrust in the studio now being expressed by directors like Duffield, Coyote vs. Acme could be the first domino toward a radical shift for the company. It remains to be seen if other high-profile creatives share similar distrust for the studio, and what it could mean for its future.
Source: Brian Duffield/Twitter
