Warner Bros. Discovery spent $70 million to produce the live-action and animation hybrid Coyote vs. Acme. Despite this investment, the studio chose to shelve the completed film in late 2023 for a $30 million tax write-off. This decision triggered a significant public and industry backlash.
Filmmakers and fans quickly organized to defend the project, arguing that the decision to hide the movie did not reflect the quality of the finished work. Producer Chris DeFaria noted that the team acted fast to control the narrative, ensuring the film was not viewed as a failure. Support from industry names like Phil Lord and Christopher Miller helped keep public pressure on the studio.
Ketchup Entertainment eventually acquired the project for $50 million. The film is now set for a theatrical release on August 28, nearly three years after it was initially pulled from the schedule. Critics who have seen the movie describe it as a top-tier project, comparing its quality to Who Framed Roger Rabbit.
Director Dave Green confirmed that he and screenwriter Samy Burch fought to maintain specific creative elements during production. This included the inclusion of an animated version of Peter Lorre, a detail studio executives originally wanted to remove. The film arrives in theaters as a survivor of a corporate decision that ultimately failed to erase its existence.