{
  "id": 765030,
  "title": "‘Coyote vs. Acme’ was canned by Warner Bros. But 3 years later, that’s not all folks",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/13/coyote-vs-acme-was-canned-by-warner-bros-but-3-years-later-thats-not",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-13T12:23:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Associated Press",
    "slug": "associated-press",
    "url": "https://apnews.com/article/coyote-vs-acme-interview-warner-bros-f3ce1106f191a8ef2cc6e26bf8b73fe9"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Before attracting the moniker “the funeral screening,” the film \"Coyote vs. Acme\" had already been finished. The Looney Tunes meets live action film, inspired by \"Who Framed Roger Rabbit?\", was the brainchild of director Dave Green. The project began as an ambitious comic endeavor, drawing from an Ian Frazier \"Shouts and Murmurs\" column in The New Yorker. Hopes were high for the movie, reflected in the positive audience test scores. However, just days before Will Forte, who played Wile E. Coyote's attorney, could witness \"Coyote vs. Acme,\" Warner Bros. made the decision to cancel it. The studio didn't merely delay the film or send it to streaming platforms; they opted to can it completely. Forte, along with his wife and the cast and crew, gathered for one last farewell, expressing an array of emotions from confusion to frustration and searing anger. The abrupt termination of \"Coyote vs. Acme\" sent shockwaves through the Hollywood industry. Despite Warner Bros. CEO David Zaslav's intention to move away from the straight-to-HBO Max projects of his predecessor, the decision to eliminate \"Coyote vs. Acme\" after its completion was unprecedented. The movie, along with two others, \"Batgirl\" and \"Scoob! Holiday Haunt\", was put on hold, marking the end of a unique cinematic journey.",
  "summary": "NEW YORK (AP) — Before it was dubbed “the funeral screening,” it was just when Will Forte was going to see the movie. “Coyote vs. Acme” was finished. Director Dave Green, inspired by…",
  "key_points": [
    "\"Coyote vs. Acme\" completed despite being dubbed \"funeral screening\"",
    "Warner Bros. canceled the film just days before Will Forte's cameo",
    "Three other projects, including \"Batgirl\" and \"Scoob! Holiday Haunt,\" also put on hold"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": "https://urgent.news/ill/765030.png",
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "‘Coyote vs. Acme’ was canned by Warner Bros. But 3 years later, that’s not all folks",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/13/coyote-vs-acme-was-canned-by-warner-bros-but-3-years-later-thats-not-768132",
        "published": "2026-08-13T12:04:53.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}