Screenings are underway this week for Amazon Prime, Apple, and Netflix to assess the possibility of acquiring Warner Bros’ discarded Looney Tunes film, Coyote Vs. Acme, as reported by Deadline. The studio faced criticism over the weekend following the similarly abrupt cancellations of Batgirl and Scoob Holiday Haunt last year.
Unnamed sources suggest that Amazon is a “leading contender,” due to the apparent influence of Courtenay Valenti, the head of film, streaming, and theatrical at Amazon Studios and MGM. Valenti, previously at Warner Bros as president of production and development, is reportedly playing a pivotal role in championing the now-dropped movie.
Had a lot of fun scoring Coyote Vs Acme. As no-one will be able to hear it now, due to bizarre anti-art studio financial shenanigans I will never understand, here is a bit of behind the scenes footage of our “Meep Meep” Roadrunner choir, with apologies to Tchaikovsky… pic.twitter.com/HL7h00rXpp
— Steven Price (@SteveBPrice) November 10, 2023
With the actors’ strike concluding and a demand for content from both streaming platforms and theatrical schedules, the decision to leave a finished film like Coyote vs. Acme unused, resulting in a $30 million write-off on the $70 million production, was characterized as “bizarre anti-art studio financial shenanigans” by the film’s composer, Steven Price. You can check out more of his reaction on X (formerly Twitter) above.