An article from The Hollywood Reporter notes that Warner Bros. Discovery has shelved Coyote vs. Acme, a hybrid of live-action and CG animation in the vein of Space Jam and Looney Tunes: Back In Action.
The move comes after Bill Damaschke took over Warner Animation Group earlier this year.
Responding to the decision via social media, filmmaker Dave Green stated:
“For three years, I was lucky enough to make a movie about Wile E. Coyote, the most persistent, passionate, and resilient character of all time. I was surrounded by a brilliant team, who poured their souls into this project for years. We were all determined to honor the legacies of these historic characters and actually get them right.
Along the ride, we were embraced by test audiences who rewarded us with fantastic scores. I am beyond proud of the final product, and beyond devastated by WB’s decision. But in the spirit of Wile E. Coyote, resilience and persistence win the day.”
Sources believe the film, starring John Cena and produced by James Gunn, cost around $72 million to make, but WBD is intent on working with Green in the future as the filmmaker sets off on developing a project for New Line Cinema.
Cena has made a number of appearances in WWE during the course of the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes, most recently competing at Crown Jewel in a loss to Solo Sikoa.