EXCLUSIVE: It’s not just Netflix that made a bid for Warner Bros.’ scrapped Coyote vs. Acme. Paramount, Apple, and Amazon have also seen the movie as well. Of those, Paramount has made a bid, and the plus there is a theatrical release. The Melrose lot could use it on the 2024 release calendar. Debt-laden exhibitors would want it, too.
Meanwhile, Amazon is mulling, I’m told, with no formal bids made. First, it takes longer over there to conduct business and get decisions through the proper channels. I also hear marketing is trying to get their heads around the picture (seriously — there’s a lot of action scenes in the movie and hysterical jokes that can easily be used in trailers. I’ve seen the movie. Look out for the Porky Pig pant-less joke).
Warners is playing hardball as they want 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, tears went into this, and the sense of humor rivals the sophistication of Who Framed Roger Rabbit?. Also, wake up, Warner Bros — all of this is for bad business.
One filmmaker told me 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.” Wadda ya think? Shouldn’t those fears be dispelled?
C’mon Warners, either sell or release: Do we really want your history to go down as a place that’s known as killing projects; and a former Warner Media CEO (Jason Kilar) known for releasing movies to the widest audience possible via streaming and theatrical?
Some tell us over at the Burbank lot that Coyote vs Acme was originally 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, duh: DC League of Superpets which was more expensive at $90M, opened to $23M stateside and finaled at $93.6M domestic, and made $207.6M WW.
Sony and Apple aren’t making bids, sources say.
Keep checking back — because that’s not all, folks.