Summary
Warner Bros.has reportedly backed out of releasing another completed movie, a project that could now go the way ofCoyote vs. ACMEandBatgirl. The company is no stranger to shelving finished movies, typically to save on costs or for tax write-downs. The latest movie to suffer this fate from the studio was thenow-cancelledCoyote vs. ACME, aLooney Tuneslive-action hybrid movie about Coyote taking on ACME through the legal system. Despite shopping it around to other distributors, it was ultimately cancelled when the studio couldn’t get a price they wanted for it.
Now, in a report about the current state of Warner Bros.,Puckclaims that another completed movie is reportedly getting shelved by the studio.The movie is an R-rated animated comedy fromPrimalcreator Genndy Tartakovsky calledFixed, following a dog’s last night before his owners neuter him. The movie is now back in Sony’s hands, who are attempting to sell it to a distributor. If they’re unable to, then it may never see the light of day.
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While the company has many high-profile releases coming soon, fromHBO’sHarry PotterTV rebootto the DCU’s first movie inSuperman, the shelving of multiple completed films doesn’t add much faith to the company.This is especially true because their current situation likely requires some write-downs, meaning anything could be cancelled for monetary purposes. While they have plenty of plans, from a revitalized superhero universe to a multitude ofupcomingGame of Thronesspinoffs, their success rate could determine their longevity.
However, as the reported shelving ofFixedseems to indicate,Warner Bros. is likely banking more on their established franchises to help lift them up instead of smaller, standalone movies.While this might help bolster profits, their cancellation of movies likeBatgirlandCoyote vs. ACMEin the past show they aren’t above axing recognizable names for tax purposes. With the company having a grim net loss in their latest earnings report, it’s unclear how much the Tartakovsky movie getting shelved is going to help their trajectory.
Tartakovsky is still involved with Warner Bros., currently working onPrimalseason 3.
