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Warner Bros Discovery dealt a blow to their DC CEO by shelving one of the promising films produced by James Gunn. The David Zaslav-run conglomerate has been busy cutting costs and killing movies since its takeover three years back. The latest victim was the completed hybrid live-action and animated film,Coyote vs. Acme, as WBD took a $30 million write-down for the $70 million production.
The film was directed by Dave Green and featured a stellar cast of John Cena, Will Forte, and Lana Condor. Fans were disappointed with this cancelation and raised concerns about the studio’s direction under Zaslav.
Also Read:“They couldn’t understand”: Zack Snyder Proved Studio Wrong by Refusing to Back Down for One Movie That Was Written by James Gunn
David Zaslav’s WB Cancels James Gunn’s Completed Film
Coyote vs. Acmeis the third in the list of films abandoned by the studio, following the cancelation of theScoob!prequel,Scoob Holiday Haunt!, and the Max-destinedBatgirl. WBD justified its decision by deeming the returns from the film not worthy of the cost of releasing it or selling it to another buyer. The studio also emphasized a shift in its global strategy to focus on theatrical releases with the relaunch of Warner Bros. Pictures Animation.
This move struck a chord withJames Gunn, who was appointed as the CEO of DC Studios last November. Gunn had placed trust in this project and the test screening for the film also garnered good scores, 14 points above the family norm. The claim that the film is not worth it appears unfounded, as the previous WB-Looney Tunes release,Space Jam: A New Legacy, grossed $163.6 million despite a simultaneous theatrical and Max release during the pandemic.
In another maneuver by the David Zaslav-run Warner Bros Discovery to kill movies, we hear on very good authority that Warner Bros will not be releasing the hybrid live-action/animated Coyote vs. Acme, with the conglom taking an estimated $30M write-down on the $70M production. We…pic.twitter.com/DO10BSqFY2
— Deadline Hollywood (@DEADLINE)August 10, 2025
Fans reacted wildly to the news, with some accusingDavid Zaslavof running the conglomerate with a short-sighted view of the gains. Others targeted James Gunn stating that he deserved it for destroying the Snyderverse and recasting fan favoritesHenry CavillandBen Affleck. Some fan reactions read:
Karma is a mirrorGunn fired Henry Cavill unceremoniously then lied about it, lied about Ben Affleck directing and about wonder woman 3 to Gal Gadot. He deserves this more than anyone else
— JJ (@Aditya77928959)June 22, 2025
Find it hard to fathom they can’t find $30M of long term value in the title by licensing it to streamers over the coming years.
Short term “gain” at best.
Unless a film is unreleasable creatively, this seems penny wise but pound foolish.
— Ben Everard (@beneverard)June 30, 2025
Once again I am asking why Zaslav still has a job
— JSilverPlatinum (@JSilverPlatinum)July 08, 2025
Sometimes I feel like Discovery buying Warners is a ‘destroying things from the inside’ kind of thing. Zaslav can’t possibly like this company. All he’s done since taking over is destroy everything WB has built and ruin it’s legacy.
— Pam (@Filmbuff05)June 29, 2025
WB is going bankrupt…
— The Disney Scoop Guy (@DisneyScoopGuy)June 24, 2025
Sam Burch wrote the screenplay forCoyote vs. Acmebased on the story by Burch, Gunn, and Jeremy Slater. The story drew inspiration from the character Wile E. Coyote and the Acme Corporation from theLooney Tunescartoons. Another source of inspiration was the New Yorker magazine humor article of the same name by Ian Frazier.
Also Read:Gwyneth Paltrow Series Predicted Henry Cavill’s Superman Successor Years Before James Gunn Became DCU CEO
Why Do Fans Feel James Gunn Deserves The Betrayal?
Since James Gunn took over the DC Studios, he has been on the receiving end of some fan hate. His decision to overhaul the Snyderverse and replace it with his vision of DC Universe did not sit well with theZack Snyderfans. TheGuardians of the Galaxydirector also decided to replace several actors in the DCU, including fan favorites Henry Cavill and Ben Affleck.
Gunn replaced Cavill with a ‘younger’ actor,David Corenswet. Gunn also cancelled a thirdWonder Womanproject which was in development and fired directorPatty Jenkins. However, it was reported that Gunn retainedGal Gadotin her role as Wonder Woman, but her character will undergo a reboot.
Insiders also reported a strict and controlling regime at DC Studios under Gunn. Fans, particularly staunch supporters of Snyder, have closely scrutinized every move by Gunn. It wasn’t a surprise that emotions ran high when Gunn was betrayed by his bosses.
Also Read:Not James Gunn, David Zaslav’s Biggest Win Might Be Luring Back Christopher Nolan for WB as Director Confirms Return to Troubled Studio
Hashim Asraff
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3018
Hashim Asraff is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, with over 2,800 articles published on celebrity culture, comic book movies, and major TV franchises. With a background in Sociology and a keen interest in pop culture, Hashim brings a unique lens to breaking news stories, character deep-dives, film rankings, and fan-driven perspectives.His coverage often includes the MCU, DCU, hit network shows, and celebrity profiles, giving readers a rich blend of entertainment and analysis. A longtime fan of crime and investigative series, Hashim has watched thousands of episodes of NCIS, Criminal Minds, Law & Order: SVU, Bones, Blue Bloods, and The RookieA passionate storyteller and wordsmith, Hashim has also worked as a ghostwriter and managed multiple social media handles. He brought his writing expertise to FandomWire to also pursue his lifelong love for cinema and television.
