| Coyote vs. Acme | |
|---|---|
 Frame from the film released by cast member Eric Bauza on social media[1] | |
| Directed by | Dave Green |
| Screenplay by | Samy Burch |
| Story by |
|
| Based on | "Coyote v. Acme" by Ian Frazier[2][3] |
| Produced by |
|
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Brandon Trost |
| Edited by | Carsten Kurpanek[4] |
| Music by | Steven Price[4] |
Production companies |
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| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $70 million[6] |
Coyote vs. Acme is an unreleased American live-action/animated legal comedy film directed by Dave Green and written by Samy Burch, based on a story by Burch, James Gunn and Jeremy Slater.[2] The film is based on the 1990 magazine article "Coyote v. Acme" published in The New Yorker by Ian Frazier, which itself is based on the cartoon character Wile E. Coyote and the Acme Corporation from the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series of cartoons. The cast includes John Cena, Will Forte, Lana Condor, P.J. Byrne, Tone Bell, Martha Kelly, and the voice of Eric Bauza.
Development began in August 2018 with Chris McKay as producer and Jon and Josh Silberman writing the screenplay. Green was hired to direct in December 2019, and Burch, Slater, and Gunn joined the following year. Cena, Forte and Condor were cast in early 2022. Live-action filming took place in New Mexico from March to May 2022.
Warner Bros. Discovery shelved Coyote vs. Acme in November 2023 to obtain a $30 million tax write-down, making it the third film shelved by Warner Bros. after Batgirl and Scoob! Holiday Haunt. Following a public backlash, Warner Bros. allowed the filmmakers to shop the film to other distributors. In February 2024, following unsuccessful negotiations with potential buyers, Warner Bros. Discovery again considered shelving the film and claiming a tax loss, although, as of March 2024, it was reported by Burch that conversations within Warner Bros. Discovery were still ongoing as to whether or not the film would be released.[7]
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
deadline-eric-bauzawas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b "Coyote vs. Acme". Writers Guild of America West. March 21, 2023. Archived from the original on April 9, 2023. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
- ^ Frazier, Ian (February 19, 1990). "Wile E. Coyote v. Acme Company, by Ian Frazier". The New Yorker. Archived from the original on October 16, 2018. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
RollingStonewas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
Gunnwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
shelvedwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Perella, Vincent; Bergeson, Samantha (March 10, 2024). "'Coyote vs. Acme' Writer Samy Burch Says Film May Still Be Released: Conversations Are 'Ongoing,' but We'd Be 'Heartbroken' If It's Shelved". IndieWire. Archived from the original on March 10, 2024. Retrieved March 11, 2024.