Warner Bros revives shelved Coyote vs Acme with Comic-Con screening
Developed over time first seen 2 weeks ago
"Coyote vs. Acme", the animated-live-action hybrid film shelved by Warner Bros. Discovery in November 2023 as a tax write-off, has ultimately been revived following a sustained fan campaign, receiving its first public screening at San Diego Comic-Con. Director Dave Green and star Lana Condor presented the film in person, marking a striking reversal for a project many had written off as permanently unreleased.
Alongside the screening, Green confirmed the film will get a physical Blu-ray release restoring material judged too risqué for cinemas, including uncensored outtakes featuring John Cena. These unscripted, improvised exchanges between Cena, co-star Will Forte and the Looney Tunes characters were originally cut for their adult-oriented content but will now feature in the home release, giving fans a fuller cut than any cinema audience would have seen.
- Shelved "Coyote vs. Acme" revived after fan pressure, screened at Comic-Con
- Director Dave Green and star Lana Condor presented it in person
- Blu-ray release will restore cut, uncensored John Cena outtakes
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Coyote vs. Acme is a live-action and animation hybrid film built around the Looney Tunes characters, starring Will Forte and John Cena. Warner Bros. Discovery made headlines in late 2023 when it shelved the completed film entirely rather than release it, reportedly for tax purposes, angering fans and prompting criticism of the studio's approach to finished projects. No cinema release ever happened.
Since then, a persistent fan campaign has pushed for the film to see the light of day, and the studio has now reversed course. Its first public showing took place at San Diego Comic-Con, a major entertainment convention where studios often unveil films and shows to enthusiastic audiences, with director Dave Green and star Lana Condor on hand to present it.
The film's history matters beyond one project, as it became a symbol of wider debates about studios cancelling completed work for financial write-offs rather than releasing it, and about how much influence fan campaigns can have on those decisions.
Coverage
- Variety — ‘Coyote vs. Acme’ Director and Star Lana Condor on Finally Showing Their Film to the Fans at Comic-Con: ‘The Fight Was For a Good Reason’
- IGN — Exclusive: Coyote vs. Acme Is Getting a Physical Home Media Release with NSFW John Cena Outtakes