After Coyote vs. Acme success, filmmakers urge Warner Bros. to revive shelved projects

The success of Coyote vs. Acme has put Warner Bros.’s shelved films back under the spotlight. The movie opened in the United States with $15.4 million, prompting filmmakers and animation fans to ask whether other completed projects could also be rescued.

Based on the Looney Tunes character Wile E. Coyote, the film combines live action and animation. After decades of being blown apart by dynamite, struck by anvils and crushed by rocks, the character turns against Acme, the company that supplies the weapons he uses to pursue the Road Runner.

John Cena, Will Forte and Lana Condor lead the cast. Warner Bros. completed production but decided not to release the movie in 2023 as part of a strategy to obtain tax benefits. The decision drew criticism from people involved in the production and from fans, particularly because the film was nearly finished.

Interest returned after special-event screenings drew favorable reactions. Independent producer Ketchup Entertainment then bought the rights and resolved the distribution issues, allowing the film to reach audiences.

The case has encouraged calls to reconsider other Warner projects. One is Bye Bye Bunny: A Looney Tunes Musical, a completed animated musical starring Bugs Bunny. It formed part of plans to develop new stories around classic Looney Tunes characters, but Warner’s strategy changes left it indefinitely shelved.

Another is Scoob! Holiday Haunt, an animated sequel continuing the story of Scooby-Doo. The studio discarded the completed film, and Michael Kurinsky, one of its directors, appealed on social media for another company to rescue and release it.