The movie Acme faced near cancellation twice, and its star, Lana Condor, is now sharing her feelings about the experience. She opened up about the emotional aftermath of Warner Bros. shelving Coyote vs. Acme and what the cast went through behind closed doors.
Lana Condor reveals the cast’s fears after Warner Bros. shelved Coyote vs. Acme
The actress discussed the emotional impact of Warner Bros. shelving Coyote vs. Acme in a recent interview with Variety. The cast held a “funeral screening” after the studio canceled the completed film in November 2023 to claim a $30 million tax write-off.
Condor described watching the shelved film as deeply painful, stating, “It’s so horrible. It’s like, really easy to blame yourself.” She expressed devastation for the entire production team, saying, “You’re devastated for the hundreds of people who have worked on this far longer than I have. It feels like a funeral.”
She also mentioned to ComingSoon that the cast had doubts about the film before viewing it. “We went to the funeral screening on the Warner Brothers lot, and we kind of went into it thinking, ‘Well, maybe it’s a bad movie,’” she said. However, their perspective changed completely during the screening.
The studio completed the live-action animated hybrid film before deciding against its release without prior warning to the crew. Warner Bros. Discovery had previously shelved Batgirl and Scoob! Holiday Haunt for similar tax write-offs.
This decision led to significant backlash from filmmakers and industry figures alike. Several filmmakers expressed their anger through phone calls to Warner Bros., while others canceled meetings in protest of the shelving decision. Director Dave Green voiced his disappointment and highlighted the team’s commitment to the Looney Tunes characters.
Days later, Warner Bros. reversed its decision and allowed filmmakers to seek other opportunities for distribution. Multiple studios, including Netflix, Amazon, and Paramount, showed interest in acquiring the film; however, Warner Bros. rejected all bids after demanding $75 to $80 million. Ultimately, Ketchup Entertainment acquired the rights for approximately $50 million in March 2025. The film is set to open in U.S. theaters on August 28, 2026, with a 95% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
