Warner Brothers pulls a John Cena film, leading to questions about what happened. It appears that Warner Brothers has done it again, this time pulling a completed film before its official release. The film in question is the John Cena vehicle, Coyote vs Acme.

Variety is reporting:

The studio no longer plans to release “Coyote vs. Acme,” a live action-animation hybrid starring John Cena, which completed filming in 2022.

Movie fans may recall that Warner Brothers pulled two films in 2022 before their release, despite both productions being filmed. The first was Batgirl (believed to have a $90 million price tag) and the animated film Scoob! Holiday Haunt (which was rumored to have a $40 million budget). It's believed Warner Brothers cancelled these films to obtain a tax write-off.

Why is Coyote vs Acme Being Shelved?

According to Variety, the film is being cancelled due to a change in management. The story also referenced the Batgirl and Scoob films:

Those films, as well as the $30 million “Coyote vs. Acme,” were greenlit by the former regime, led by Jason Kilar and intended for release on HBO Max. His successor, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav, has shifted the studio’s priorities back to theatrical and felt this movie didn’t fit with the new creative direction of the company. The decision also comes after Bill Damaschke took over Warner Animation Group earlier this year.

H/T Variety

A Fun Project

This is unfortunate as there were many people looking forward to the film. The movie is based on a 1990 New Yorker about a fictional lawsuit by Warner Brothers character Wile E. Coyote against the Acme Corporation. Wile E. Coyote was featured in many of the classic Warner Brothers cartoons where he pursued a roadrunner, using various Acme gadgets to catch his prey. The hapless coyote was always unsuccessful, with the gadgets inevitably backfiring on him, often with explosive results.

The film's director Dave Green tweeted his disappointment with the cancellation:

John Cena was going to portray the Acme Corporation's CEO and it would have given Cena another chance to showcase his comedic skills. What do you think of this cancellation?