Lawmaker Accuses WB of Predatory Behavior in Scrapping a Finished Film

Congressman Joaquin Castro condemned Warner Bros. Discovery (formerly Twitter) for choosing to delay the release of their film Coyote vs. Acme in order to secure a $30 million tax break. Castro, a Democrat from Texas, expressed his disapproval on social media by calling out Warner Bros. Discovery's practice of sacrificing completed films for financial gain, describing it as predatory and anti-competitive. Castro also urged the Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission to assess this conduct in light of ongoing revisions to antitrust guidelines, comparing it to intentional destruction of property for insurance purposes.

In response to public backlash, Warner Bros. Discovery has reportedly changed course and decided to make Coyote vs. Acme available for purchase, exploring alternative avenues for distribution. According to Deadline's report on Monday, the film is currently being screened for potential acquisition by Amazon Prime, Apple, and Netflix. The discarded Looney Tunes film, Coyote vs. Acme, a mixture of live-action and animation set in the Looney Tunes universe, features Lana Condor and John Cena, with a production budget of $70 million.

The sudden cancellations of Batgirl and Scoob! Holiday Haunt last year led to backlash against the studio. This is the third time in less than two years that Warner Bros. Discovery has chosen to delay or scrap a completed film in order to secure a tax break. Despite previous assurances from the studio, the decision to shelve Coyote vs. Acme has sparked renewed outrage. Director Dave Green expressed his disappointment on social media last week, stating, "Along the ride, we were embraced by test audiences who rewarded us with fantastic scores. I am beyond proud of the final product."

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z fan, I feel disappointed and frustrated by Warner Bros. Discovery's alleged predatory behavior. Scrapping a finished film just to secure a tax break is not only unethical but also disrespectful to the hard work and dedication of the cast and crew who worked on the project. It's disheartening to see a major studio prioritizing financial gain over the release of a film that fans have been eagerly anticipating.

The fact that this is the third time in less than two years that Warner Bros. Discovery has chosen to delay or scrap a completed film is particularly concerning. It suggests a systemic issue within the studio that needs to be addressed. I hope that the Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission will take a closer look at this conduct and consider revising antitrust guidelines to prevent such practices in the future.