Coyote vs. Acme: The Key to Batgirl’s Possible Resurrection!

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Summary

  • Coyote vs. Acme‘s cinematic rescue by Ketchup Entertainment reignites hope for unreleased films like Batgirl.
  • Ketchup Entertainment’s acquisition has breathed new life into the shelved Coyote vs. Acme, offering a potential lifeline to other unreleased projects.
  • Commercial success of Coyote vs. Acme could pave the way for the revival of Batgirl, should it meet or exceed financial expectations.

For Looney Tunes enthusiasts, Coyote vs Acme fans, and Warner Bros. Pictures, April 1 was not just an ordinary April Fool’s Day. Instead, it marked the exciting news that the unseen live-action animated film, titled Coyote vs Acme,, was rescued from oblivion. Ketchup Entertainment stepped in to purchase the rights for a whopping $50 million. Although no trailer has been revealed as of now, the movie is expected to capitalize on the nostalgia surrounding Wile Coyote’s relentless chase of the Road Runner. In an interesting twist, Wile Coyote will even be suing ACME Corporation for their gadgets that consistently fail during his never-ending pursuit of the Road Runner.

The dramatic rescue scene in “Coyote vs. Acme” serves as a bittersweet echo for “Batgirl” fans, another Warner Bros. production that has yet to see the light of day. However, it’s ultimately the movie-loving public – the fans – who hold the deciding power over whether “Batgirl” will ever be released.

Just Like Coyote vs. Acme, Batgirl Was Shelved Before Seeing The Light Of Day

It Was an Unprecedented Move For Warner Bros.

Approximately three years have passed since Warner Bros. regretfully scrapped the finished Batgirl film just months before it was set to premiere. Leslie Grace was intended to take on the role of Barbara Gordon’s Batgirl, joining Michael Keaton and Brendan Fraser in the now-defunct DC Extended Universe. However, the movie was unexpectedly shelved six months after filming — allegedly for tax purposes — without any prior notice given to its cast or crew.

The movie had an impressive array of remarkably skilled individuals working on both sides of the camera, yet it was not suitable for release. Such occurrences are not uncommon. In my opinion, Zaslav and his team displayed great bravery and wisdom by choosing to scrap it, as it could have potentially harmed DC and those who worked diligently on its production.

It’s not shocking that the daring move to cancel a $70 million-plus Batgirl project, which was unusually large for such a film at the time, wasn’t greeted with silence as even U.S. lawmakers voiced concerns about the Warner Bros.-Discovery merger. Peter Safran explained the decision by calling Batgirl an “unreleasable” movie that would harm DC. After multiple test screenings, it consistently received negative feedback. The same executive who ended Batgirl also didn’t spare Scoob! Holiday Haunt, and the film remains unreleased to this day.

Coyote vs. Acme’s Box Office Could Save Batgirl From Purgatory

It’s A Litmus Test For These Oddly Unreleased Films

Currently, it seems like Batgirl won’t be released. However, just as people thought Coyote vs. Acme would never come out, Ketchup Entertainment stepped in to save it. Essentially, this means that Batgirl isn’t completely canceled. A strong showing of Coyote vs. Acme at the box office could potentially spark a chain reaction leading to the resurrection of Batgirl.

Nonetheless, let’s exercise caution. The latest Looney Tunes animated movie, titled “The Day the Earth Blew Up“, is now playing in cinemas, yet its box office performance should make investors nervous. Despite earning an impressive 88% on Rotten Tomatoes, it fell short of recovering its $15 million production cost, managing to gross only slightly over $10 million instead.

Essentially, if “Coyote vs. Acme” adheres to the standards set by “The Day the Earth Blew Up”, it implies that the outcry from film industry professionals following its cancellation was merely vocal and strengthens David Zaslav’s stance in postponing the project. In a field where commerce takes precedence over artistry, this would not only vindicate delaying “Coyote” but also significantly darken the already dim prospects of “Batgirl”.

Given the typical distribution of box office earnings for movies like Coyote vs. Acme, it would require earning a minimum of $160 million to be considered a secure investment. This falls within the same ballpark as Space Jam: A New Legacy, which underperformed at the box office with its $163 million gross despite having a high production budget of $150 million.

Warner Bros. Has Learned A Thing Or Two From the DCEU

Support in Hashtags and Twitter Threads Doesn’t Always Translate to Ticket Sales

It’s clear that the controversial nature of the defunct DC Extended Universe can’t be denied. The initial movies in the series, excluding Wonder Woman, generally received mixed reviews. However, the films under the leadership of Zack Snyder still managed to make a profit at the box office, even those like Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice that were less than impressive. Nevertheless, growing discontent among DC fans and the wider audience eventually led to a complete overhaul of the franchise, starting with Suicide Squad and continuing through to The Flash.

Apart from the Aquaman films, most movies in the post-Snyder DCEU fell short at the box office, either not making back what they cost to produce or barely breaking even. This was surprising because there were signs of improved audience and critical response. The inconsistency in performance might have led to the tough call for a universe reboot. It appears that only fans loyal to Zack Snyder supported his version of Justice League.

Is It Too Late for Batgirl?

If “Coyote vs. Acme” performs as expected, it could lead Warner Bros. executives, including David Zaslav, to reconsider their stance on “Batgirl”. However, this may be too late for Leslie Grace, Bilall Fallah, and Adil El Arbi. James Gunn’s new DC Universe is set to debut with “Superman”, and if the film is successful, as it seems to be based on early feedback, Warner Bros. might choose to erase any trace of a previous universe and shelve “Batgirl” indefinitely. Let’s hope this doesn’t happen, as the cast and crew deserve to share their vision with audiences.

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2025-04-05 21:35