Batgirl Directors Share Thoughts on Warner Bros. Shelving Coyote Vs. Acme
Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, directors of the cancelled Batgirl movie, have weighed in on Warner Bros. shelving Coyote Vs. Acme. Originally planned to be released on Max in 2022, Warner Bros. caused shock waves throughout the industry when they decided to shelve the nearly completed DCEU movie along with the animated feature Scoob! Holiday Haunt. In November 2023, the studio followed suit by shelving the live-action/animated hybrid movie Coyote Vs. Acme, though, since then, Warner Bros. has seemingly reversed course multiple times and is reportedly still looking to shop the film to potential buyers.
Screen Rant recently spoke with El Arbi and Fallah on the red carpet for the release of Bad Boys: Ride or Die, and asked about the growing trend of cancelling already completed movies. Revealing the pair are friends with Coyote Vs. Acme director Dave Green, El Arbi suggested that movies are intended to be seen, and it is up to audiences to judge them.
Will Audiences Ever See Batgirl Or Coyote Vs. Acme?
Whether Coyote Vs. Acme will be able to escape the same fate as Batgirl remains to be seen, and, at least at this stage, there is still some hope that audiences may get a chance to view it.
While Hollywood professionals are more than accustomed to seeing potential projects shelved before cameras ever have a chance to roll, the decision by Warner Bros. to shelve movies like Batgirl and Coyote Vs. Acme is unusual given how close they both were to being released. To make matters even more confusing, the buzz surrounding Coyote Vs. Acme often compared it to the classic 1988 blockbuster Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
Coyote Vs. Acme Cancellation Timeline
In April of this year, it was reported that Warner Bros. was still actively looking for potential buyers for Coyote Vs. Acme and reports of its official cancellation in favor of a $35-40 million tax write-down were inaccurate. On the other hand, though, it would seem that Batgirl has been definitively shelved, with current DC Studios co-CEO Peter Safran saying the movie was “not releasable.” Claiming the movie would not be able to compete in theaters, due to being “built for the small screen,” Safran suggested its release could have potentially harmed the DC brand.
Whether Coyote Vs. Acme will be able to escape the same fate as Batgirl remains to be seen, and, at least at this stage, there is still some hope that audiences may get a chance to view it. With any luck, a prospective buyer can finally offer Warner Bros. the price they are looking for and allow the viewing public to judge the finished product for themselves, especially considering the Coyote Vs. Acme’s cast includes Will Forte and John Cena. Directors like El Arbi and Fallah are not alone in wanting to see the finished product.