‘Coyote vs. Acme’ was canned by Warner Bros. But 3 years later, that’s not all folks

apnews ^

[algore]

NEW YORK (AP) — Before it was dubbed “the funeral screening,” it was just when Will Forte was going to see the movie.

“Coyote vs. Acme” was finished. Director Dave Green, inspired by “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?” had completed the editing on the Looney Tunes blend of cartoon and live action. The whole project, which takes an Ian Frazier “Shouts and Murmurs” column from The New Yorker as its source material, was an audacious comic gambit that seemed to be paying off.

Hopes were high. Audience test scores were good. But days before Forte, who stars as Wile E. Coyote’s attorney, could see “Coyote vs. Acme,” Warner Bros. canceled it. Not just the screening — the movie. The studio hadn’t delayed it or sent it to streaming. They were canning it altogether.

“I just thought: ‘Well, they’re canceling the movie. It’s gotta be bad,’” Forte recalls.

Forte and his wife, suspecting the movie must have turned out poorly, joined the cast and crew to say goodbye to the film no one else was going to see.

“That was when the real emotions started,” Forte says. “It was everything I wished the movie could have been and more. It was so special, which made it so frustrating and so devastating. The confusion was amped up, then frustration, then just searing anger.

“Then it made even less sense,” he adds. “We all looked around, like, ‘What’s happening here?’”

At the same time, the entire episode suggested a dark new chapter in the movie business that has left many involved with “Coyote vs. Acme” shaky. This wasn’t a young filmmaker getting turned down on their first film. It was two years of work on one of Warner Bros.’ most iconic franchises — a movie even produced by DC Studios chief James Gunn.

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TOPICS: Heated Discussion
KEYWORDS:

[PeterPrinciple]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coyote_vs._Acme

Premise
After every product made by the Acme Corporation has backfired on Wile E. Coyote in his pursuit of the Road Runner, down-and-out human billboard attorney Kevin Avery represents Wile E. in a lawsuit against Acme. A growing friendship between Wile E. and Kevin builds up their determination to win the court case, as it pits them against Buddy Crane, the intimidating boss of Kevin’s former law firm, who now represents Acme.[7][8]

[PeterPrinciple]

The abrupt termination of “Coyote vs. Acme” sent shockwaves through Hollywood. Everyone in the movie business is accustomed to sudden, painful twists of fate. But the wholesale elimination of a finished film faster than you can say “Meep! Meep!” was something new.

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from the article

[PeterPrinciple]

But nearly three years after that “funeral screening,” the movie is, like its ever-undaunted protagonist, back from the dead. After an outcry, Warner Bros. put “Coyote vs. Acme” up for sale. Ketchup Entertainment, an independent distributor that last year released the Looney Tunes movie “The Day the Earth Blew Up,” picked it up for about $50 million. On Aug. 28, “Coyote vs. Acme” will finally see the light of day.

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so you can see it?

[escapefromboston]

It’s a funny premise but I don’t know if it can hold up for 90 minutes. I might check it out on steaming later but I really hate this modern animation style.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Arriving in theaters nationwide on August 28.

[algore]

Sadly if I were to call any of my kids, and said Meep Meep they would assume I were talking about this

[lee martell]

Are they saying the classic cartoon is now going to be mixed with live action episodes? I hope not. Some realities start out as 2 dimensional drawings and are best perceived as two dimensional with no “improvements”.

[Dr. Sivana]

I like the idea that Warner /Disney won’t make any money off it. I may check it out. Maybe I’ll take my son.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

From Forbes:

The review embargo for the film lifted on Wednesday and so far, Coyote vs. Acme has earned a 94% “fresh” critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes’ (RT) Tomatometer based on 31 reviews. RT’s Critics Consensus, Audience Summary and Popcornmeter score based on verified user ratings are still pending.

Among the top critics on Rotten Tomatoes who award Coyote vs. Acme a “fresh” score Frank Scheck of The Hollywood Reporter writes “It’s a pleasure to report that the film is a hilarious delight, one of the best live-action/animation films ever, and will be treasured by Looney Tunes fans (and who isn’t one?).”

William Bibbiani of The Wrap writes, “It’s the Looney Tunes version of classic courtroom dramas like The Verdict and Erin Brockovich, and although it parodies those films it also tries, successfully, to make us feel the way those other great underdog stories make us feel.” Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert.com writes, “It’s a reminder that there are ways to homage decades of animated comedy without feeling like fan service, bringing these characters to both new fans and the old ones who may have forgotten how much they love them.”

[BenLurkin]

He should just order a Fizgig from ACME.

[ConjunctionJunction]

I don’t really care what critics have to say. I’ll wait for the audience score.

[sit-rep]

...size=100%> works wonders...

just tire of scrolling into my next room to see some of you guys contributions...

[Leaning Right]

> It’s a funny premise but I don’t know if it can hold up for 90 minutes. <

Add Foghorn Leghorn as a mediator of sorts. That might work.

[catnipman]

if the “critics” REALLY, REALLY, REALLY love a movie, then you just know it’s hard leftist propaganda with zilch actual entertainment value ...

[ProtectOurFreedom]

I was afraid of that, too. But so far, audiences have liked it. The rare alignment between critics and audiences (so far).

[KarlInOhio]

Does Foghorn have a chance in his lawsuit against Dow Chemical for their Sody-pop recipe?

[Beowulf9]

“I really hate this modern animation style”.

Where did you see it?

I’m sure you are right though, the new and improved animation is often dismal.

They seem to think they can make it better and they end up making me cringe.

[abigkahuna]

I dunno, Never was a roadrunner-coyote fan. Strictly a Bugs Bunny man...altough I could go for some Fog Horn Leghorn upon occasion and then don’t forget Pepe Le Pew...always a hit with the ladies. I like Slyvester—but couldn’t stand Tweetie Bird...

And of course anything Tex Avery did was fantastic...come to think of it, I liked Ren and Stimpy later on..But didn’t know the creator there was a perv until decades later....sigh...

[escapefromboston]

Im just going by the trailer, maybe its CGI made to look like cell animation ? I really don’t know how they made the film but the animation looks ugly when compared to classic Looney Tunes stuff