Warner Bros. is facing backlash for its decision to potentially delete a completed film, 'Coyote vs. Acme', as a tax write-off, sparking outrage among filmmakers and critics. The controversy centers around the studio's handling of the film, which, despite having a built-in brand and being a finished product, was not picked up by streaming giants like Netflix or Amazon, nor by Paramount, with offers from these entities being rejected. Critics accuse Warner Bros. and its CEO, David Zaslav, of being detrimental to the creative arts and the industry, with some suggesting that shelved movies should be released into the public domain instead of being written off for tax purposes, potentially costing American taxpayers up to $100 million. The situation has led to calls for legal and union action to prevent such occurrences in the future.
What if we delete David Zaslav?
The Final Days of ‘Coyote vs. Acme’: Offers, Rejections and a Roadrunner Race Against Time Warner was seeking $75 – $80 million but rejected offers from Netflix, Amazon and Paramount, insiders tell TheWrap. Read more ⬇️ https://t.co/xQai4M080i
I remember in the 80s when the accountants took over Hollywood. This is where it has led to - finished films that are good and entertaining will be erased because a company doesn’t want to spend the money to promote it. They would rather take it as a loss. FUCK YOU WALL STREET https://t.co/PzogGL1sEO
How bad were the old regime's films that they are better off as tax write-offs than on the free market? I now want to see this for the same reason I want to see the butthole CGI version of "Cats" - because it's already bad, it may be so bad it's ironically good. https://t.co/YLoZBZwdFi
I was about to say that I wish this film existed, but if it did, it would be deleted for a tax write-off before anyone got to watch it https://t.co/QT0COZdcM8
David Zaslav prepares to bury the highly regarded COYOTE VS ACME and take as much as $100 million from American taxpayers for his mindless destruction; likely will find way to include further bonus for himself https://t.co/HFPcXbdvPr
Warner Bros. is once again threatening to destroy a movie for a tax write-off. @JacobOller writes about the nadir of Hollywood accounting: https://t.co/MK0ZTyOyoE
"When Netflix or Amazon pass on a movie, especially one with a built-in brand like Coyote vs. Acme, there’s only one explanation: the movie stinks to high heaven." https://t.co/3kp8myv1w9
Zaslav is such a fuck up of an executive. https://t.co/ayJV37AV13
This may be good accounting but this is bad business. Delete Zaslav. https://t.co/usfr5S2fmF
What would be the downside of forcing any film "eliminated" as a tax write-off to be released in the public domain? You're electing to take the write-off, so it's not forcing something out the studio doesn't want out. I guess that studios could use it as subsidized marketing?
Im so angry. Angry seeing Warner Bros just being so cruel to artists that they would just delete a film for tax reasons. Just remove it from ever being seen. It should be a crime. I hate that art industries like movies & games are run by capitalist ghouls. https://t.co/KA1B9d4V2C
Then just put it in the public domain. https://t.co/cWdlu0ODeN
Movies deleted instead of released, apartment buildings sitting empty, beloved publications bought to be dismantled. So tired of malignant accountants being incentivized to salt the earth. https://t.co/yRsg2bMNYa
This is absolutely tragic: "In a truly inglorious end, a source close to the movie doesn’t believe Warner Bros. would even announce that they hadn’t found a home for the movie. They would unceremoniously delete it. Never to be seen again." https://t.co/QkQbGw8fmD
Fuck David Zaslav forever. This guy is a fucking joke. https://t.co/6v6CgOZ5Go
Studios cannot keep shelving movies for tax credits. It’s unfair to the cast & crew. It’s unfair to tax-payers. It’s unfair to audiences. If a good Looney Tunes movie isn’t viable, what is? Lawyers need to work penalties in. The gov. needs to step up. Or in 2026, unions will. https://t.co/tNCHhz4ASW
Congratulations to @wbpictures for deciding to commit the greatest crime against American cinema since RKO destroyed all the cut footage from The Magnificent Ambersons https://t.co/Ui9UjetgIJ
David Zaslav is an enemy of the creative arts. Let’s just call it what it is. https://t.co/g7IzLFZY9V