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Congressman Joaquin Castro has criticized Warner Bros. Discovery on X (formerly Twitter) for its decision to withhold the release of the finished film Coyote vs. Acme in pursuit of a $30 million tax break. The Texas Democrat took to social media, saying, “The @WBD tactic of scrapping fully made films for tax breaks is predatory and anti-competitive. As the Justice Department and @FTC revise their antitrust guidelines, they should review this conduct… it’s like burning down a building for the insurance money.”
Following online criticism of the move, Warner Bros. Discovery has reportedly decided to offer Coyote vs. Acme for sale, exploring alternative distribution options. Deadline reported on Monday that screenings are underway this week for Amazon Prime, Apple, and Netflix to evaluate the potential acquisition of the discarded Looney Tunes film. Coyote vs. Acme, a live-action animation hybrid within the Looney Tunes universe, features Lana Condor and John Cena, and its production budget was $70 million.
The studio faced backlash over the sudden cancellations of Batgirl and Scoob! Holiday Haunt last year, making Coyote vs. Acme the third instance in less than two years where Warner Bros. Discovery has chosen to delay or completely scrap the release of a completed film to secure a tax break. Despite previous assurances from the studio, WBD’s decision to shelve Coyote vs. Acme has sparked renewed outrage.
Last week, director Dave Green expressed his disappointment on social media, stating, “Along the ride, we were embraced by test audiences who rewarded us with fantastic scores. I am beyond proud of the final product.”
