Will Forte Says Warner Bros. Shelving ‘Coyote vs. Acme’ for $30 Million Tax Write-Off Is ‘F—ing Bulls—‘ and ‘Makes My Blood Boil,’ Tells Fans Not to Forget What the Studio Did

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I can’t help but express my admiration for Will Forte, who passionately advocates for the recognition of “Coyote vs. Acme,” a hilarious Looney Tunes production that Warner Bros. infamously chose to shelve, claiming a $30 million tax write-off. This decision was met with widespread criticism from the film industry. Interestingly, this isn’t the first time Warner Bros. has faced backlash for similar decisions; they previously stirred up controversy by shelving “Batgirl” and “Scoob! Holiday Haunt.

Forte expressed his disappointment to MovieWeb during an interview, stating, ‘I truly believe it’s unfair.’ This film is a joy to watch and deserves more recognition than it received. I can’t explain the reasons behind its non-release, but it really frustrates me.

I’m grateful you brought up the topic, as I always enjoy discussing this film. It’s crucial that we keep in mind the efforts put forth by Warner Bros. in its creation, yet I am thankful for their part in allowing us to bring it to life. However, I implore that our labor of love doesn’t end up being hidden away. If the final product isn’t up to par, I would understand, but this one is exceptionally good. I can only hope that somehow we get a chance to share it with the world. I am genuinely proud of what we’ve achieved.

Initially scheduled for release on July 21, 2023, the film titled ‘Coyote vs. Acme’ was later taken off Warner Bros.’ release schedule and replaced with ‘Barbie’. The studio declared then that they had no intention of ever putting out the movie, a $70 million production blending live action and animation, which featured John Cena and Lana Condor. In this film, Forte portrayed Wile E. Coyote’s lawyer. The screenplay was penned by Samy Burch, who is known for writing ‘May December’.

Four months following Warner Bros.’ decision to halt production on “Coyote vs. Acme”, Forte expressed his thoughts via Instagram, addressing the film’s team with a heartfelt message: “At first, when I learned our movie was being put aside, I hadn’t had the chance to watch it yet. I admit, my initial assumption was that it must have been subpar. But then I finally got to see it, and let me tell you, it’s truly extraordinary.

In terms of Hollywood business matters, I’m completely clueless about the subject. Just because our film performs well during testing, there’s no certainty that it will become a success. The final decision ultimately lies with those who financed the movie, and they can do whatever they wish with it. However, my personal feelings towards it are clear – I despise it. This doesn’t mean I have to approve of their choices or agree with them. It also doesn’t diminish the fact that our film is nothing short of extraordinary.

As a devoted cinema enthusiast, I’m thrilled to share that Forte is out promoting his latest project – a Netflix comedy titled “Kinda Pregnant,” where he stars alongside the hilarious Amy Schumer. If you haven’t already, be sure to catch his engaging interview with MovieWeb in the video linked below!

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2025-02-06 18:51