Paramount has made a bid for Warner Bros.’ scrapped Coyote vs. Acme, Deadline reports. Netflix, Apple and Amazon are also circling the movie, however, Paramount's bid may be more favorable as it comes with a potential theatrical release. The Melrose lot could use it on the 2024 release calendar. Debt-laden exhibitors would want it, too.
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| Wile E. Coyote and Bugs Bunny | Everett Collection |
Meanwhile, Amazon is mulling, Deadline's Anthony D'Alessandro has been told, with no formal bid made. First, it takes longer over there to conduct business and get decisions through the proper channels. D'Alessandro also hears that marketing execs are trying to get their heads around the picture. "Seriously — there’s a lot of action scenes in the movie and hysterical jokes that easily could be used in trailers. I’ve seen the movie. Look out for the Porky Pig pant-less joke," notes D'Alessandro.
Warners is playing hardball as it wants to cover the $70M and then some. So, TBD who wins this. But at the end of the day, Warners, Acme vs. Coyote isn’t Disney’s Song of the South. There’s no reason to bury this film in the vault for others not to see it. A lot of blood, sweat and tears went into this, and the sense of humor reportedly rivals the sophistication of Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Also, wake up, Warner Bros — all of this is bad for business.
One filmmaker told D'Alessandro recently: “We have a project over at Warners in development. We’re so not pursuing active development until the studio is sold. God knows what will happen to projects in development.” Waddaya think? Shouldn’t those fears be dispelled?
C’mon Warners, either sell Coyote vs. Acme or release it. Do we really want your history to go down as a place that’s known as killing projects and a former WarnerMedia CEO (Jason Kilar) known for releasing movies to the widest audience possible via streaming and theatrical?
Some tell Deadline over at the Burbank lot that Coyote vs. Acme originally was conceived for streaming: Not true, it had a theatrical date, that being Barbie’s release date of July 21. Clearly the economics on this project were worked out during greenlight: DC League of Super-Pets, which was more expensive at $90M, opened to $23M stateside, finaled at $93.6M domestic and made $207.6M worldwide.
Sony and Apple aren’t making bids, sources say.
Hopefully this isn't "that’s all, folks".
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H/T: Kidscreen.
