Assuming the Earth doesn’t blow up before February 28, 2025 — not a complete impossibility given our political climate — you’ll have an opportunity to watch “The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie” in theaters. It almost didn’t happen.
The Warner Bros. Animation-produced “The Day the Earth Blew Up” was one of those movies that Warner Bros. Discovery blew up for tax purposes. Distributor Ketchup Entertainment back in August picked the animated film’s carcass up off Wbd’s (cost-)cutting room floor, aka the floor in David Zaslav’s corner office.
That other Looney Tunes film, “Coyote vs. Acme,” wasn’t so lucky — or it was simply too attractive a write-off to pass up. Warner Bros. Discovery still has roughly $45 billion of debt to pay down, and Zaslav and CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels have been brutal about the content cuts.
In “The Day the Earth Blew Up,...
The Warner Bros. Animation-produced “The Day the Earth Blew Up” was one of those movies that Warner Bros. Discovery blew up for tax purposes. Distributor Ketchup Entertainment back in August picked the animated film’s carcass up off Wbd’s (cost-)cutting room floor, aka the floor in David Zaslav’s corner office.
That other Looney Tunes film, “Coyote vs. Acme,” wasn’t so lucky — or it was simply too attractive a write-off to pass up. Warner Bros. Discovery still has roughly $45 billion of debt to pay down, and Zaslav and CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels have been brutal about the content cuts.
In “The Day the Earth Blew Up,...
- 10/18/2024
- by Tony Maglio
- Indiewire
Exclusive: Ketchup Entertainment’s pickup of Warner Bros Animation’s The Day The Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie will be debuting in theaters on February 28, 2025.
The movie, which was originally conceived for Max, made its world premiere at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in June, when it received high praise from critics. Deadline told you first about Ketchup’s acquisition.
The movie will make its North American premiere Friday at the Animation Is Film festival, where it will qualify for the Best Animated Feature Oscar race.
The pic was directed by Pete Browngardt and follows Porky Pig and Daffy Duck teaming up again, this time faced with the threat of an alien invasion.
“For generations, the Looney Tunes have held a soft spot in the hearts of fans the world over, including my own,” Ketchup Entertainment CEO Gareth West said. “It’s a true pleasure to bring...
The movie, which was originally conceived for Max, made its world premiere at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in June, when it received high praise from critics. Deadline told you first about Ketchup’s acquisition.
The movie will make its North American premiere Friday at the Animation Is Film festival, where it will qualify for the Best Animated Feature Oscar race.
The pic was directed by Pete Browngardt and follows Porky Pig and Daffy Duck teaming up again, this time faced with the threat of an alien invasion.
“For generations, the Looney Tunes have held a soft spot in the hearts of fans the world over, including my own,” Ketchup Entertainment CEO Gareth West said. “It’s a true pleasure to bring...
- 10/17/2024
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Ever since Christopher Nolan won the Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Director with his blockbuster historical drama "Oppenheimer" (four words you rarely read together), the entire film industry has been keeping a close eye on the filmmaker's next move. Nolan's creative whims have always driven speculation within the business, but this time around it wasn't just about what he would do next but where he would do it.
For almost a decade, this wasn't a concern. After his breakthrough neo-noir masterpiece "Memento" turned him into one of the hottest young directors in Hollywood, Christopher Nolan made his first studio effort, "Insomnia," at Warner Bros., and called the big house in Burbank his home for close to a decade. What changed? The Covid pandemic and then WB production chief Jason Kilar's decision in 2020, via his Project Popcorn initiative, to release the company's entire slate for the year day-and-date...
For almost a decade, this wasn't a concern. After his breakthrough neo-noir masterpiece "Memento" turned him into one of the hottest young directors in Hollywood, Christopher Nolan made his first studio effort, "Insomnia," at Warner Bros., and called the big house in Burbank his home for close to a decade. What changed? The Covid pandemic and then WB production chief Jason Kilar's decision in 2020, via his Project Popcorn initiative, to release the company's entire slate for the year day-and-date...
- 10/14/2024
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
Under Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav’s continued campaign of content erasure, animation fans mourn the destruction of Planet Nielsen.
In case Zaslav’s reputation among the cartoon community wasn’t low enough already, the controversial executive’s regime made a surprising and surreptitious move this week that sparked outrage across numerous online fandoms. Following the latest updates to the Max streaming library, seven Cartoon Network shows have disappeared from the premium streaming service, with Ben 10, Steven Universe, the 2016 Powerpuff Girls revival, Amazing World of Gumball, We Bare Bears, Chowder and Regular Show all pulled from service without so much as a “leaving soon” notice.
Now that the entire entertainment industry is firmly sliding on a downward slope following the peak of streaming, it seems that no TV series — no matter how beloved or endlessly quoted — is safe from the content cuts that have become company-wide policy under Zaslav’s leadership.
In case Zaslav’s reputation among the cartoon community wasn’t low enough already, the controversial executive’s regime made a surprising and surreptitious move this week that sparked outrage across numerous online fandoms. Following the latest updates to the Max streaming library, seven Cartoon Network shows have disappeared from the premium streaming service, with Ben 10, Steven Universe, the 2016 Powerpuff Girls revival, Amazing World of Gumball, We Bare Bears, Chowder and Regular Show all pulled from service without so much as a “leaving soon” notice.
Now that the entire entertainment industry is firmly sliding on a downward slope following the peak of streaming, it seems that no TV series — no matter how beloved or endlessly quoted — is safe from the content cuts that have become company-wide policy under Zaslav’s leadership.
- 10/3/2024
- Cracked
Greta Gerwig Grateful Even for Those Who Call Her “Completely Bananas” in Pioneer of the Year Speech
Greta Gerwig expressed her gratitude for being a “show person” while accepting the prize as the 2024 Pioneer of the Year.
Gerwig was the recipient of this year’s honor from the Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation. The ceremony took place Wednesday at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills to celebrate Gerwig’s accomplishments that include writing and directing Lady Bird, Little Women and Barbie, all of which were nominated for the best picture Oscar.
“I’m mostly used to going to the Beverly Hilton to lose, so this is a nice change of pace,” Gerwig quipped at the start of her acceptance speech about the venue that has served for decades as home of the Golden Globe Awards.
She went on to thank the organization for supporting the moviegoing experience. “The work that you do for caring for this community that I’m part of, it’s just extraordinary,...
Gerwig was the recipient of this year’s honor from the Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation. The ceremony took place Wednesday at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills to celebrate Gerwig’s accomplishments that include writing and directing Lady Bird, Little Women and Barbie, all of which were nominated for the best picture Oscar.
“I’m mostly used to going to the Beverly Hilton to lose, so this is a nice change of pace,” Gerwig quipped at the start of her acceptance speech about the venue that has served for decades as home of the Golden Globe Awards.
She went on to thank the organization for supporting the moviegoing experience. “The work that you do for caring for this community that I’m part of, it’s just extraordinary,...
- 9/26/2024
- by Ryan Gajewski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Gary Dauberman's "Salem's Lot" has had a bumpy ride. The Stephen King adaptation was originally supposed to hit theaters in 2022. Then it got delayed to 2023. Then it got pulled from the release calendar entirely. Since "Salem's Lot" is a Warner Bros. production, there was a growing fear that this vampire movie would go the way of WB's "Batgirl" and "Coyote vs. Acme" and never see the light of day. King got involved, taking to Twitter and pondering why the studio was sitting on the flick. "Not sure why WB is holding it back; not like it's embarrassing, or anything," the master of horror said. Rumors eventually began to swirl that "Salem's Lot" might skip theaters entirely and go directly to WB's streaming service, Max. Sure enough, the studio finally announced that was the case: "Salem's Lot" is destined to stream on Max this October, just in time for Halloween season.
- 9/26/2024
- by Chris Evangelista
- Slash Film
At first, Warner Bros reversed course on a tax write-off, allowing producers to shop the previously ‘shelved’ animated feature “Coyote vs Acme” to alternate distributors, at a reported price tag of $80 million:
“…Netflix, Amazon and Paramount screened the movie, with Paramount proposing a theatrical release. But Warner Bros.was looking at a $40 million tax write-down and wanted $80 million from buyers, ‘take it or leave it’.
“Based on a 1990 article in the ‘New Yorker’ magazine, by Ian Frazier the movie would follow a new tax plan, previously used in the elimination of the ‘woke’ $90 million feature “Batgirl”.
“Despite the time, effort and dedication of hundreds of people involved in the making of a film, getting rid of a wholly finished movie had become an acceptable means of dealing with a problem…
“…with the studio insisting on a price tag that would cover ‘negative cost plus’, or what the movie cost the studio and ‘additional fees’ incurred.
“…Netflix, Amazon and Paramount screened the movie, with Paramount proposing a theatrical release. But Warner Bros.was looking at a $40 million tax write-down and wanted $80 million from buyers, ‘take it or leave it’.
“Based on a 1990 article in the ‘New Yorker’ magazine, by Ian Frazier the movie would follow a new tax plan, previously used in the elimination of the ‘woke’ $90 million feature “Batgirl”.
“Despite the time, effort and dedication of hundreds of people involved in the making of a film, getting rid of a wholly finished movie had become an acceptable means of dealing with a problem…
“…with the studio insisting on a price tag that would cover ‘negative cost plus’, or what the movie cost the studio and ‘additional fees’ incurred.
- 9/23/2024
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
“’Salem’s Lot” is finally on its way.
The new adaptation of Stephen King’s 1975 novel, considered by many to be one of the author’s very best, was shot in the summer of 2021 (with additional photography a year later). And then it just sat. For a while it was unclear whether Warner Bros. was just going to scrap the movie altogether, as it did with “Batgirl” and “Coyote vs. Acme.” Eventually the movie was shifted to premiere on the company’s streaming platform Max. We now have a date that it’ll debut (October 3) and a brand new trailer. Watch it below.
Lewis Pullman plays Ben Mears, a novelist who is drawn back to his hometown of Jerusalem’s Lot, obsessed with a supposedly haunted house, with a history of bad fortune, which has become even more evil with the arrival of an ancient supernatural force. Makenzie Leigh, Alfre Woodard,...
The new adaptation of Stephen King’s 1975 novel, considered by many to be one of the author’s very best, was shot in the summer of 2021 (with additional photography a year later). And then it just sat. For a while it was unclear whether Warner Bros. was just going to scrap the movie altogether, as it did with “Batgirl” and “Coyote vs. Acme.” Eventually the movie was shifted to premiere on the company’s streaming platform Max. We now have a date that it’ll debut (October 3) and a brand new trailer. Watch it below.
Lewis Pullman plays Ben Mears, a novelist who is drawn back to his hometown of Jerusalem’s Lot, obsessed with a supposedly haunted house, with a history of bad fortune, which has become even more evil with the arrival of an ancient supernatural force. Makenzie Leigh, Alfre Woodard,...
- 9/12/2024
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
There just aren’t enough drama reruns in the world to keep TNT afloat in its current state, so Warner Bros. Discovery is changing things up. Really, it’s turning back the clock.
As first reported by the Wall Street Journal and confirmed by IndieWire, Wbd is looking to bring original scripted drama back to TNT, which, when it wasn’t airing live sports, had become a dumping ground for drama reruns and action films. The company will also open the WB movie library to reboot several films as made-for-tv movies or series for TNT. We’re probably not going to get a “Batgirl” or “Coyote vs. Acme” series.
Why the reversion in strategy? Well, Warner Bros. Discovery recently lost its most-valuable asset, the NBA, to Amazon Prime Video (essentially). An NBA-less TNT just does not command the roughly $3-per-customer rate that cable providers pay Wbd. That’s quite pricey — but it’s no ESPN.
As first reported by the Wall Street Journal and confirmed by IndieWire, Wbd is looking to bring original scripted drama back to TNT, which, when it wasn’t airing live sports, had become a dumping ground for drama reruns and action films. The company will also open the WB movie library to reboot several films as made-for-tv movies or series for TNT. We’re probably not going to get a “Batgirl” or “Coyote vs. Acme” series.
Why the reversion in strategy? Well, Warner Bros. Discovery recently lost its most-valuable asset, the NBA, to Amazon Prime Video (essentially). An NBA-less TNT just does not command the roughly $3-per-customer rate that cable providers pay Wbd. That’s quite pricey — but it’s no ESPN.
- 8/27/2024
- by Tony Maglio
- Indiewire
Fifty years after his debut novel Carrie, Stephen King remains a major name in horror. So when writer/director Gary Dauberman signed on to adapt King’s second novel Salem’s Lot, he made sure to stay faithful to the source. And that fidelity. included keeping the movie in the same decade as the 1975 book. Turns out, that wasn’t much of a challenge. “Most of my stuff is set in the ’70s,” Dauberman told Vanity Fair. “I love the music. I do love the costumes. I just love the vibe of it.”
Salem’s Lot tells the story of writer Ben Mears (Lewis Pullman), who returns to his tiny hometown Jerusalem’s Lot in time to discover that it’s been invaded by vampires. It’s the type of story that works best in the 1970s, before social media and cell phones make it easier to keep tabs on one another...
Salem’s Lot tells the story of writer Ben Mears (Lewis Pullman), who returns to his tiny hometown Jerusalem’s Lot in time to discover that it’s been invaded by vampires. It’s the type of story that works best in the 1970s, before social media and cell phones make it easier to keep tabs on one another...
- 8/22/2024
- by Joe George
- Den of Geek
Michael Keaton reprised his role as Batman in the Warner Bros. Discovery film Batgirl, which was shelved back in 2022. But in a new interview with GQ, Keaton seemed unbothered by the decision.
When asked if he was disappointed by Batgirl’s premature fate, Keaton told the magazine, “No, I didn’t care one way or another. Big, fun, nice check.” The interviewer notes that Keaton then “rubb[ed] his fingers together in the universal gesture for ‘moolah'” — which is fitting, considering the film cost around $90 million to make.
He did, however, swiftly mention that he’s rooting for the film’s directors, Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, and feels bad that the plug was pulled on their vision. “I like those boys. They’re nice guys,” Keaton said. “I pull for them. I want them to succeed, and I think they felt very badly, and that made me feel bad.
When asked if he was disappointed by Batgirl’s premature fate, Keaton told the magazine, “No, I didn’t care one way or another. Big, fun, nice check.” The interviewer notes that Keaton then “rubb[ed] his fingers together in the universal gesture for ‘moolah'” — which is fitting, considering the film cost around $90 million to make.
He did, however, swiftly mention that he’s rooting for the film’s directors, Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, and feels bad that the plug was pulled on their vision. “I like those boys. They’re nice guys,” Keaton said. “I pull for them. I want them to succeed, and I think they felt very badly, and that made me feel bad.
- 8/19/2024
- by Paolo Ragusa
- Consequence - Film News
John Cena says he understands why David Zaslav decided to cancel the release of Coyote vs. Acme after its completion, a corporate line-toeing that aligns with his personal philosophy of, “You can’t see me.”
In late 2023, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO Zaslav shelved the half-animated, half-live-action Looney Tunes movie about a hapless antagonist’s quest for justice after suffering decades of misfortune thanks to ineffective products purchased from the Acme corporation. Coyote vs. Acme, which began development long before Zaslav’s Discovery merged with WarnerMedia in 2022, was a labor of love that brought together such comedic talents as Adam McKay, James Gunn, Will Forte and Cena in an homage to the characters and cartoons that have enriched so many childhoods for the better part of the last century.
While those lucky industry insiders who got to see a test screening of Coyote vs. Acme have expressed outrage over Zaslav’s...
In late 2023, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO Zaslav shelved the half-animated, half-live-action Looney Tunes movie about a hapless antagonist’s quest for justice after suffering decades of misfortune thanks to ineffective products purchased from the Acme corporation. Coyote vs. Acme, which began development long before Zaslav’s Discovery merged with WarnerMedia in 2022, was a labor of love that brought together such comedic talents as Adam McKay, James Gunn, Will Forte and Cena in an homage to the characters and cartoons that have enriched so many childhoods for the better part of the last century.
While those lucky industry insiders who got to see a test screening of Coyote vs. Acme have expressed outrage over Zaslav’s...
- 8/16/2024
- Cracked
John Cena wishes ‘Coyote vs. Acme’ was “given a chance” before Warner Bros. shelved it.The 47-year-old actor starred in the live-action/ animated movie which would have seen the unlucky ‘Looney Tunes’ character sue the corporation for their unreliable products that hindered his chances of catching the Road Runner, but the studio chose to scrap the film in February for tax purposes.Now, Cena has admitted he wished the flick got to see the light of day because he and director Dave Green believed they had made a very entertaining flick.He told The Wrap: “There’s a lot there. And everyone’s perspective is different. We don’t own the film. That’s the tough part about this business, you do have a sense of ownership because you invest heart and soul.“And Dave Green and everybody involved, we made what we thought was a good movie.”The...
- 8/16/2024
- by Alex Getting
- Bang Showbiz
Back in 2019, John Cena hadn’t quite found his solid footing in films of Hollywood. Before his fame grew with James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad, Cena was often seen in underrated movies that failed at the box office.
John Cena as Sammy Fak in season 3 of The Bear | Credits: FX
One such movie had John Cena trying his hardest not to break character as actor and comedian Keegan-Michael Kay picked out various antics from his books to make the scene as comedic as possible.
When John Cena Broke His Character
The 2019 film that we are referring to is titled Playing With Fire. Starring John Cena, John Leguizamo, Tyler Mane, and, several others, the film was considered a failure but became a cult classic.
Cena in a still from Playing With Fire | Credits: Paramount Players
The film follows the story of a team of firefighters who have to take care...
John Cena as Sammy Fak in season 3 of The Bear | Credits: FX
One such movie had John Cena trying his hardest not to break character as actor and comedian Keegan-Michael Kay picked out various antics from his books to make the scene as comedic as possible.
When John Cena Broke His Character
The 2019 film that we are referring to is titled Playing With Fire. Starring John Cena, John Leguizamo, Tyler Mane, and, several others, the film was considered a failure but became a cult classic.
Cena in a still from Playing With Fire | Credits: Paramount Players
The film follows the story of a team of firefighters who have to take care...
- 8/16/2024
- by Visarg Acharya
- FandomWire
Following in the footsteps of co-star Will Forte, John Cena offers his take on Warner Bros’ decision to delete Coyote Vs Acme as a tax write-off.
It’s been a few months since Will Forte penned an open letter, praising the work everybody put into Coyote Vs Acme, the latest (completed) film to be deleted at the behest of Warner Bros boss, David Zaslav. At this point, Zaslav is ‘disappearing’ films with the alarming regularity that an average crime boss makes witnesses and informants vanish, while those whose careers never benefit from their work actually being seen by the public are left to deal with the fallout of what could have been.
Now John Cena, the film’s other lead star has publicly offered his take. Given that months have passed and the disappointment has hopefully lessened somewhat, the actor’s take is fairly diplomatic. As he does the press...
It’s been a few months since Will Forte penned an open letter, praising the work everybody put into Coyote Vs Acme, the latest (completed) film to be deleted at the behest of Warner Bros boss, David Zaslav. At this point, Zaslav is ‘disappearing’ films with the alarming regularity that an average crime boss makes witnesses and informants vanish, while those whose careers never benefit from their work actually being seen by the public are left to deal with the fallout of what could have been.
Now John Cena, the film’s other lead star has publicly offered his take. Given that months have passed and the disappointment has hopefully lessened somewhat, the actor’s take is fairly diplomatic. As he does the press...
- 8/16/2024
- by Dan Cooper
- Film Stories
John Cena was one of the many actors involved in Warner Bros.’ now-shelved “Coyote vs. Acme,” and he remains sad about its fate. That said, he is keeping his faith in the process that led to said fate.
The film was officially scrapped back in November, despite being fully finished and screened for some audiences. The decision sparked heavy criticism, both from fans and those involved with the film. In response, the studio walked back the decision in part, allowing the film to be shopped around. In the end, though, as TheWrap exclusively reported in February, Warner Bros. turned down several offers, and “Coyote vs. Acme” remains unreleased.
Speaking to TheWrap ahead of his new film “Jackpot!” — now streaming on Prime Video — Cena opened up about the Hollywood process and how he’s feeling about the decision all these months later.
“There’s a lot there. And everyone’s perspective is different.
The film was officially scrapped back in November, despite being fully finished and screened for some audiences. The decision sparked heavy criticism, both from fans and those involved with the film. In response, the studio walked back the decision in part, allowing the film to be shopped around. In the end, though, as TheWrap exclusively reported in February, Warner Bros. turned down several offers, and “Coyote vs. Acme” remains unreleased.
Speaking to TheWrap ahead of his new film “Jackpot!” — now streaming on Prime Video — Cena opened up about the Hollywood process and how he’s feeling about the decision all these months later.
“There’s a lot there. And everyone’s perspective is different.
- 8/15/2024
- by Andi Ortiz
- The Wrap
John Cena was understandably put out when Warner Bros. honcho David Zaslav coldly shelved his live-action/animated comedy, “Coyote vs Acme” last year. But he may have found some comfort in Paul Feig’s “Jackpot!”, which is basically an extended “Road Runner” episode.
Though there aren’t any actual cartoon characters in “Jackpot!”, it’s more than fair to call it cartoonish — and most of the participants probably wouldn’t argue the point.
Interestingly, it’s Cena — and co-lead Awkwafina — who give the two-dimensional structure some three-dimensional heft. But they have to work pretty hard to bust out of its repetitive cycle of low-stakes comic violence. There are no anvils involved, but there might as well be.
Awkwafina is the hapless Katie, a former child actor who’s just returned to a slightly-futuristic LA in order to revive her career. She’s arrived in 2026, by which point the country is...
Though there aren’t any actual cartoon characters in “Jackpot!”, it’s more than fair to call it cartoonish — and most of the participants probably wouldn’t argue the point.
Interestingly, it’s Cena — and co-lead Awkwafina — who give the two-dimensional structure some three-dimensional heft. But they have to work pretty hard to bust out of its repetitive cycle of low-stakes comic violence. There are no anvils involved, but there might as well be.
Awkwafina is the hapless Katie, a former child actor who’s just returned to a slightly-futuristic LA in order to revive her career. She’s arrived in 2026, by which point the country is...
- 8/15/2024
- by Elizabeth Weitzman
- The Wrap
2024 has been a blockbuster year for WWE, packed with unforgettable moments. The highlight was undoubtedly the electrifying return of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson to the ring, which had fans buzzing with excitement. On the flip side, John Cena, another WWE icon, threw a curveball at WWE Money in the Bank by announcing his retirement.
John Cena as Sammy Fak in season 3 of The Bear | Credit: FX
To add a bittersweet twist, he later told Jimmy Kimmel that he won’t be pulling a “The Rock move” and making a surprise comeback. Fans were left with a mix of admiration and a touch of sadness, knowing Cena won’t be stepping back into the ring anytime soon.
John Cena Sets the Record Straight, No Post-Retirement Returns Like The Rock!
John Cena has officially announced his retirement (via WWE), but he’s not stepping away just yet. Instead, he’s giving fans...
John Cena as Sammy Fak in season 3 of The Bear | Credit: FX
To add a bittersweet twist, he later told Jimmy Kimmel that he won’t be pulling a “The Rock move” and making a surprise comeback. Fans were left with a mix of admiration and a touch of sadness, knowing Cena won’t be stepping back into the ring anytime soon.
John Cena Sets the Record Straight, No Post-Retirement Returns Like The Rock!
John Cena has officially announced his retirement (via WWE), but he’s not stepping away just yet. Instead, he’s giving fans...
- 8/15/2024
- by Sampurna Banerjee
- FandomWire
Sorry, millennials, but Warner Bros. Discovery does not care about your nostalgia. A week after announcing the sunsetting of the Boomerang website (effective September 30), Wbd has quietly shut down the Cartoon Network website. It now invites visitors to subscribe to Max for $9.99 a month.
Those who still have a cable subscription, however, can blithely continue watching Boomerang and Cartoon Network programming, making us question why we ever cut cords to begin with.
“We are focusing on the Cartoon Network shows and social media where we find consumers are the most engaged and there is a meaningful potential for growth,” a Cartoon Network spokesperson told IndieWire on August 9. “While we have closed some digital products, fans can continue to interact with Cartoon Network via the Cartoon Network app as well as select TV providers apps on platforms including mobile and connected devices like Roku, Apple TV, and Amazon and via social platforms YouTube,...
Those who still have a cable subscription, however, can blithely continue watching Boomerang and Cartoon Network programming, making us question why we ever cut cords to begin with.
“We are focusing on the Cartoon Network shows and social media where we find consumers are the most engaged and there is a meaningful potential for growth,” a Cartoon Network spokesperson told IndieWire on August 9. “While we have closed some digital products, fans can continue to interact with Cartoon Network via the Cartoon Network app as well as select TV providers apps on platforms including mobile and connected devices like Roku, Apple TV, and Amazon and via social platforms YouTube,...
- 8/9/2024
- by Mark Peikert
- Indiewire
David Zaslav's scythe has slashed yet another beloved part of our childhoods: Cartoon Network dot com, home of games Nightmare-athon, Outnumbuh'd, Teen Titans Battle Blitz and The Cobblepot Caper, has been bled out. Instead of being greeted by the scribbled smiles of Gumball, Jake and Steven on the homepage, site visitors are now immediately being redirected to Max.
“Looking for episodes of your favorite Cartoon Network shows? Check out what’s available to stream on Max (subscription required),” the pop-up message reads. “Sign up for Max, where you can also create a Kids Profile with ratings restrictions and additional privacy protections to keep it fun and kid-friendly! Cable subscribers, continue to enjoy your favorite Cn programming on your TV and connected apps as well!”
What you could once get for free on the site — including full episodes of popular shows like “Craig of the Creek” and “We Bare Bears...
“Looking for episodes of your favorite Cartoon Network shows? Check out what’s available to stream on Max (subscription required),” the pop-up message reads. “Sign up for Max, where you can also create a Kids Profile with ratings restrictions and additional privacy protections to keep it fun and kid-friendly! Cable subscribers, continue to enjoy your favorite Cn programming on your TV and connected apps as well!”
What you could once get for free on the site — including full episodes of popular shows like “Craig of the Creek” and “We Bare Bears...
- 8/9/2024
- Cracked
Deadline has confirmed that Warner Bros won’t be releasing Genndy Tartakovsky’s adult animated title Fixed. This the second animated movie after Coyote Vs. Acme that the David Zaslav-led administration at the studio has casted aside.
The movie reportedly centers around a canine’s ballsack bucket list.
Sony Pictures Animation made the movie, and they’re taking back distribution rights in hopes of the pic finding a new home. Netflix, a buyer of Sony Pictures Animation fare Vivo and The Mitchells vs. The Machines is one possible contender.
Tartakovsky has had a long run at Warner Bros, specifically Cartoon Network with hits such as Dexter’s Laboratory, Samurai Jack and Star Wars: Clone Wars. He has a multi-year exclusive deal with Cartoon Network Studios and Warner Bros. Animation. The filmmaker has also been big for Sony having delivered three of their Hotel Transylvania pics which minted close to $1.4 billion at the global box office.
The movie reportedly centers around a canine’s ballsack bucket list.
Sony Pictures Animation made the movie, and they’re taking back distribution rights in hopes of the pic finding a new home. Netflix, a buyer of Sony Pictures Animation fare Vivo and The Mitchells vs. The Machines is one possible contender.
Tartakovsky has had a long run at Warner Bros, specifically Cartoon Network with hits such as Dexter’s Laboratory, Samurai Jack and Star Wars: Clone Wars. He has a multi-year exclusive deal with Cartoon Network Studios and Warner Bros. Animation. The filmmaker has also been big for Sony having delivered three of their Hotel Transylvania pics which minted close to $1.4 billion at the global box office.
- 8/9/2024
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Genndy Tartakovsky’s Fixed gets the Coyote vs Acme treatment at Warner Bros. after the studio decided not to release it. With the relaunch of Warner Bros. Animation, the studio was supposed to offer a global platform for animated films. However, Fixed is the latest in the list of animated films passed on by the studio.
Genndy Tartakovsky’s Fixed | Sony Pictures Animation
WB earlier abandoned the Scoob! prequel, Scoob Holiday Haunt!, and Coyote vs. Acme. They also passed on Bruce Timm’s Batman: Caped Crusader, which luckily found a platform in Prime Video. Some of the live-action films also got the same treatment, like Brendan Fraser’s Batgirl, which was a completed project.
Genndy Tartakovsky’s Fixed Becomes The Latest Project To Be Abandoned By Warner Bros. Genndy Tartakovsky | Boungawa, licensed under Cc By-sa 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Warner Bros. has relieved itself from distributing Genndy Tartakovsky‘s adult animated...
Genndy Tartakovsky’s Fixed | Sony Pictures Animation
WB earlier abandoned the Scoob! prequel, Scoob Holiday Haunt!, and Coyote vs. Acme. They also passed on Bruce Timm’s Batman: Caped Crusader, which luckily found a platform in Prime Video. Some of the live-action films also got the same treatment, like Brendan Fraser’s Batgirl, which was a completed project.
Genndy Tartakovsky’s Fixed Becomes The Latest Project To Be Abandoned By Warner Bros. Genndy Tartakovsky | Boungawa, licensed under Cc By-sa 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Warner Bros. has relieved itself from distributing Genndy Tartakovsky‘s adult animated...
- 8/9/2024
- by Hashim Asraff
- FandomWire
Warner Bros has reportedly handed Fixed, an animated comedy from the director of Hotel Transylvania, back to Sony Pictures Animation.
In the wake of Warner Bros Discovery announcing its startling $10bn quarterly loss, a report has emerged that the company has decided not to release Fixed, an adult animated comedy from Hotel Transylvania filmmaker Genndy Tartakovsky.
Under its original deal, Warner Bros Pictures was distributor for Fixed, with the film itself being a joint venture between production companies New Line Cinema and Sony Pictures Animation. Work on Fixed was completed in September 2023 and it was even submitted to the MPAA (which gave it an R rating) but little had been heard from the production in the months since.
Co-written and directed by Tartakovsky, Fixed follows the exploits of Bull, a bloodhound who, on discovering he has a matter of hours before he’s dragged off to the vet to be neutered,...
In the wake of Warner Bros Discovery announcing its startling $10bn quarterly loss, a report has emerged that the company has decided not to release Fixed, an adult animated comedy from Hotel Transylvania filmmaker Genndy Tartakovsky.
Under its original deal, Warner Bros Pictures was distributor for Fixed, with the film itself being a joint venture between production companies New Line Cinema and Sony Pictures Animation. Work on Fixed was completed in September 2023 and it was even submitted to the MPAA (which gave it an R rating) but little had been heard from the production in the months since.
Co-written and directed by Tartakovsky, Fixed follows the exploits of Bull, a bloodhound who, on discovering he has a matter of hours before he’s dragged off to the vet to be neutered,...
- 8/9/2024
- by Ryan Lambie
- Film Stories
Of the many crimes the Animaniacs' notorious nemesis, David Zaslav, has perpetrated during his reign of terror as CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, his blatant disrespect for the Looney Tunes ranks high on the list. As if doing little to promote the terrific modern "Looney Tunes Cartoons" series that are available exclusively on Max wasn't bad enough, Zaslav's regime has also yanked a whole lot of golden age "Looney Tunes" shorts from its streaming service and killed the live-action/animated hybrid feature "Coyote vs. Acme" solely for the sake of a tax write-off. Sadly, it seems we'll never know if Dave Green's New Yorker-inspired legal satire was an entertaining as the early buzz suggested. Nevertheless, 2024 is shaping up to be a major year for Bugs, Daffy, Porky, and the rest of the Looney gang.
As of today, Ketchup Entertainment has officially acquired the North American rights to "The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie...
As of today, Ketchup Entertainment has officially acquired the North American rights to "The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie...
- 8/8/2024
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
The Looney Tunes fandom won’t be dropping any anvils on Ketchup Entertainment anytime soon! We’re in the studio’s debt after it swooped in and acquired the North American rights to Warner Bros. Animation’s The Day The Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie for a theatrical release. The upcoming animated feature stars Daffy Duck and Porky Pig (both voiced by Eric Bauza), with Petunia Pig (Candi Milo) rounding out the trio. The film finds Daffy and Porky learning that aliens are plotting to overtake the planet, which leads the pair to put their differences aside and help save the world.
Pete Browngardt directs The Day The Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie from a script he co-wrote with Alex Kirwan and Peter Browngardt. The Day the Earth Blew Up will got a world premiere at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival. At the time, The...
Pete Browngardt directs The Day The Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie from a script he co-wrote with Alex Kirwan and Peter Browngardt. The Day the Earth Blew Up will got a world premiere at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival. At the time, The...
- 8/8/2024
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav has become a despised figure in Hollywood, largely due to his decision to scrap near-completed films as tax write-offs (Batgirl and Coyote vs. Acme remain the two most noteworthy examples).
The seemingly endless changes made to HBO Max, now called Max, have also been unpopular and attempted cost-cutting measures only served to alienate creatives and executives alike.
The impact of Zaslav's disastrous leadership is being felt fully this week after Warner Bros. Discovery stock slid 11% yesterday to an all-time low. This came after the company was forced to record a massive $9.1 billion write-down reflecting the loss of value of several of its linear television networks.
Shares have fallen to as low as $6.86 per share; for context, they were trading at $24.78 per share when Zaslav started the job in 2022 and had dropped to $14.76 this time last year. Warner Bros. Discovery's market capitalization now stands at...
The seemingly endless changes made to HBO Max, now called Max, have also been unpopular and attempted cost-cutting measures only served to alienate creatives and executives alike.
The impact of Zaslav's disastrous leadership is being felt fully this week after Warner Bros. Discovery stock slid 11% yesterday to an all-time low. This came after the company was forced to record a massive $9.1 billion write-down reflecting the loss of value of several of its linear television networks.
Shares have fallen to as low as $6.86 per share; for context, they were trading at $24.78 per share when Zaslav started the job in 2022 and had dropped to $14.76 this time last year. Warner Bros. Discovery's market capitalization now stands at...
- 8/8/2024
- ComicBookMovie.com
After serving the retro animation community proudly for seven years, the classic cartoon streaming service Boomerang will cease to exist at the end of September — and this time, it’s not coming back.
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO and president David Zaslav seems to have a bit of a love/hate relationship with his company’s immense library of classic works of art. He loves purging old Warner Bros. films from the Max streaming library, and he hates it when subscribers watch anything older than the pilot episode of Milf Manor. In Zaslav’s post-art, pro-”content” business model for Max, the streaming hub for Warner Bros. Discovery’s most culturally significant IP becomes even more bare-bones with each round of cuts, and the original shows and movies produced by Max oftentimes face cancellation after post-production and pre-premiere, leaving solidly screen-tested films like Coyote vs. Acme in a permanent state of inaccessibility to the average subscriber.
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO and president David Zaslav seems to have a bit of a love/hate relationship with his company’s immense library of classic works of art. He loves purging old Warner Bros. films from the Max streaming library, and he hates it when subscribers watch anything older than the pilot episode of Milf Manor. In Zaslav’s post-art, pro-”content” business model for Max, the streaming hub for Warner Bros. Discovery’s most culturally significant IP becomes even more bare-bones with each round of cuts, and the original shows and movies produced by Max oftentimes face cancellation after post-production and pre-premiere, leaving solidly screen-tested films like Coyote vs. Acme in a permanent state of inaccessibility to the average subscriber.
- 8/6/2024
- Cracked
Warner Bros. Discovery is shuttering its Boomerang streaming service. The Boomerang cable channel will live on.
Boomerang operations will cease on September 30; some of its programming will be integrated into Max, Wbd’s core streaming service. (There is already a decent amount of crossover to begin with.) And that’s exactly where Warner Bros. Discovery will send those Boomerang subscribers. Boomerang members will see their subscription automatically moved to Max’s ad-free tier with no change to their monthly price for a minimum of six months, a person with knowledge of the situation told IndieWire.
Until then, it’s a sweet deal: Boomerang cost $5.99 per month, Max’s ad-free plan is $16.99. Since everything (and we do mean everything) at Wbd is a financial decision, you better believe that $11/month won’t be left on the table for any longer than it feels it has to.
Boomerang the linear channel launched...
Boomerang operations will cease on September 30; some of its programming will be integrated into Max, Wbd’s core streaming service. (There is already a decent amount of crossover to begin with.) And that’s exactly where Warner Bros. Discovery will send those Boomerang subscribers. Boomerang members will see their subscription automatically moved to Max’s ad-free tier with no change to their monthly price for a minimum of six months, a person with knowledge of the situation told IndieWire.
Until then, it’s a sweet deal: Boomerang cost $5.99 per month, Max’s ad-free plan is $16.99. Since everything (and we do mean everything) at Wbd is a financial decision, you better believe that $11/month won’t be left on the table for any longer than it feels it has to.
Boomerang the linear channel launched...
- 8/5/2024
- by Tony Maglio
- Indiewire
Directed by Doug Trumbull, 1983 sci-fi thriller Brainstorm could have been deleted as an insurance write-off – but then a London bank intervened.
When Warner Bros announced its plans to effectively delete the films Batgirl, Scoob 2 and Coyote Vs Acme, the reaction was one of outrage. Studios destroying films as a tax write-off is nothing new, however: on the 21st June 1933, the Charlie Chaplin film A Woman Of The Sea (previously called Sea Gulls) was burned on the steps of Chaplin’s own studio. The five witnesses who saw the negative go up in flames then signed a letter confirming that the film had been lost to history.
A film directed and produced by one of the most important visual effects pioneers of the 20th century almost suffered a similar fate. Brainstorm, which went into production in the early 1980s, was directed by Doug Trumbull and featured a superb cast, including Christopher Walken,...
When Warner Bros announced its plans to effectively delete the films Batgirl, Scoob 2 and Coyote Vs Acme, the reaction was one of outrage. Studios destroying films as a tax write-off is nothing new, however: on the 21st June 1933, the Charlie Chaplin film A Woman Of The Sea (previously called Sea Gulls) was burned on the steps of Chaplin’s own studio. The five witnesses who saw the negative go up in flames then signed a letter confirming that the film had been lost to history.
A film directed and produced by one of the most important visual effects pioneers of the 20th century almost suffered a similar fate. Brainstorm, which went into production in the early 1980s, was directed by Doug Trumbull and featured a superb cast, including Christopher Walken,...
- 7/18/2024
- by Ryan Lambie
- Film Stories
In a new bid to cut costs, Warner Bros Discovery is to lay off nearly 1,000 employees. Its CEO David Zaslav, paid $49.7m last year, will remain in post.
Warner Bros Discovery is reportedly about to embark on a major round of staff cuts, with almost 1,000 employees across the various arms of its business set to lose their jobs.
According to Variety, the cuts will affect finance, business affairs and production; in a curiously specific detail, the outlet adds that ‘less than 10’ employees working on streaming platform Max will be let go. Last week, around 100 workers lost their jobs at the Warner-owned news network CNN according to Deadline.
Reports of the cuts come just a few months after news emerged that Warner Bros Discovery CEO David Zaslav was awarded a salary of $49.7m for his work in the year ending 2023. It was a year that saw the high-profile deletion of...
Warner Bros Discovery is reportedly about to embark on a major round of staff cuts, with almost 1,000 employees across the various arms of its business set to lose their jobs.
According to Variety, the cuts will affect finance, business affairs and production; in a curiously specific detail, the outlet adds that ‘less than 10’ employees working on streaming platform Max will be let go. Last week, around 100 workers lost their jobs at the Warner-owned news network CNN according to Deadline.
Reports of the cuts come just a few months after news emerged that Warner Bros Discovery CEO David Zaslav was awarded a salary of $49.7m for his work in the year ending 2023. It was a year that saw the high-profile deletion of...
- 7/17/2024
- by Ryan Lambie
- Film Stories
Warner Bros. Discovery has entered a new round of layoffs. This time, fewer than 1,000 staffers will see their jobs cut, a person with knowledge of the plan tells IndieWire. It may not quite be four figures, but it’s still sizable.
About 1 percent of them — or fewer than 10 employees — will be let go from the company’s core streaming platform Max, we’re told. Other impacted divisions include finance, business affairs, and production, with finance getting it the worst of all.
At this time of this writing, not all impacted staffers had yet to be notified.
Warner Bros. Discovery did not immediately respond to IndieWire’s request for comment on the layoffs.
Deadline first reported the news of the layoffs.
Cost-cutting has been one of Warner Bros. Discovery President & CEO David Zaslav’s (pictured above) primary objectives since merging his Discovery, Inc. with AT&T’s WarnerMedia in April 2022. The merger...
About 1 percent of them — or fewer than 10 employees — will be let go from the company’s core streaming platform Max, we’re told. Other impacted divisions include finance, business affairs, and production, with finance getting it the worst of all.
At this time of this writing, not all impacted staffers had yet to be notified.
Warner Bros. Discovery did not immediately respond to IndieWire’s request for comment on the layoffs.
Deadline first reported the news of the layoffs.
Cost-cutting has been one of Warner Bros. Discovery President & CEO David Zaslav’s (pictured above) primary objectives since merging his Discovery, Inc. with AT&T’s WarnerMedia in April 2022. The merger...
- 7/16/2024
- by Tony Maglio
- Indiewire
Warner Bros Discovery boss David Zaslav sees more mergers on the horizon following the union of Paramount and Skydance.
Ah, David Zaslav. The CEO of Warner Bros Discovery has demonstrated his dedication to the arts, and to the world of movies, like no other over the last year or two. It’s Zaslav, after all, who’s overseen the deletion of pretty much completed movies to save a few bob, and the pesky expense of actually releasing them. Remember the Batgirl movie that was shot and near enough locked? Of course not: Zaslav rubber-stamped its destruction as one of his many cost savings. Top guy. Well deserved his pay rise.
In the aftermath of the news that Skydance is acquiring Paramount Pictures – unless another spanner appears in the works – Zaslav has been telling CNBC that more consolidation lies ahead. He reckons that we’re “going to see some real consolidation,...
Ah, David Zaslav. The CEO of Warner Bros Discovery has demonstrated his dedication to the arts, and to the world of movies, like no other over the last year or two. It’s Zaslav, after all, who’s overseen the deletion of pretty much completed movies to save a few bob, and the pesky expense of actually releasing them. Remember the Batgirl movie that was shot and near enough locked? Of course not: Zaslav rubber-stamped its destruction as one of his many cost savings. Top guy. Well deserved his pay rise.
In the aftermath of the news that Skydance is acquiring Paramount Pictures – unless another spanner appears in the works – Zaslav has been telling CNBC that more consolidation lies ahead. He reckons that we’re “going to see some real consolidation,...
- 7/15/2024
- by Simon Brew
- Film Stories
Most people are starting to exhale now that it looks like the Paramount-Skydance sale saga is finally behind us. Those who aren’t know there’s a slim chance as part of a 45-day “go shop” window where someone else can make a bid and Shari Redstone can still change her mind and ruin everyone’s summer.
But even if Edgar Bronfman Jr. or the “Baby Geniuses” producer do come out of the woodwork, Hollywood still dodged a serious bullet: industry consolidation.
Deadline late Thursday reported that Sony and Apollo will not be a rival party making a counter offer during the go shop window. Their offer of $26 billion for the bulk of Paramount was the only other formal offer on the table. Now that’s off the table, and everyone should be able to breathe a little easy.
Under Skydance’s merger, things are no doubt going to change.
But even if Edgar Bronfman Jr. or the “Baby Geniuses” producer do come out of the woodwork, Hollywood still dodged a serious bullet: industry consolidation.
Deadline late Thursday reported that Sony and Apollo will not be a rival party making a counter offer during the go shop window. Their offer of $26 billion for the bulk of Paramount was the only other formal offer on the table. Now that’s off the table, and everyone should be able to breathe a little easy.
Under Skydance’s merger, things are no doubt going to change.
- 7/13/2024
- by Brian Welk and Tony Maglio
- Indiewire
When David Ellison first came to Hollywood, many dealmakers and insiders both balked and salivated. Here was the son of Larry Ellison, founder of the tech behemoth Oracle, trying to play in the big leagues after dropping out of USC Film School. Being the child of the 3rd wealthiest person in America (now 4th) may have made him not just any other rich kid, but to many, he was still just another nepo baby with cash to burn. And at first, that’s exactly what he did. Financing and co-starring in the 2006 WWI drama “Flyboys,” Ellison’s first dip into the entertainment waters was a critical and box-office failure, only earning $17.8 million against its $60 million budget.
But Ellison didn’t pack his bags just yet. In Hollywood, timing is everything and when he saw investment banks pull capital out of media and entertainment during the financial crisis of the late 2000s,...
But Ellison didn’t pack his bags just yet. In Hollywood, timing is everything and when he saw investment banks pull capital out of media and entertainment during the financial crisis of the late 2000s,...
- 7/8/2024
- by Harrison Richlin
- Indiewire
Thanks to fan support, Warner Bros. reversed course on the live-action/animated feature “Coyote vs. Acme” allowing producers to "shop the movie around" to alternate distributors, at a reported price of $70 million, with Netflix and Paramount both making bids to acquire the feature for a 2024 streaming release:
Principal photography was already shot for the live-action/animated hybrid feature, “Coyote vs Acme”, directed by Dave Green.
Cast includes John Cena, Will Forte and Lana Condor...
...based on the 'Wile E. Coyote' character from Warner Bros. "Roadrunner" cartoons.
"For three years, I was lucky enough to make a movie about 'Wile E. Coyote', the most persistent, passionate, and resilient character of all time," said the film's director Dave Green.
"I was surrounded by a brilliant team, who poured their souls into this project for years. We were all determined to honor the legacies of these historic characters and actually get them right.
Principal photography was already shot for the live-action/animated hybrid feature, “Coyote vs Acme”, directed by Dave Green.
Cast includes John Cena, Will Forte and Lana Condor...
...based on the 'Wile E. Coyote' character from Warner Bros. "Roadrunner" cartoons.
"For three years, I was lucky enough to make a movie about 'Wile E. Coyote', the most persistent, passionate, and resilient character of all time," said the film's director Dave Green.
"I was surrounded by a brilliant team, who poured their souls into this project for years. We were all determined to honor the legacies of these historic characters and actually get them right.
- 7/1/2024
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
Will Forte is checking into The Four Seasons comedy series starring Tina Fey, Steve Carell, and more
The upcoming reimagining of The Four Seasons needs to make some room because Will Forte is checking in. Universal Television is producing the all-new series adaptation from Tina Fey, Land Fisher, and Tracey Wigfield. Forte joins Fey, Steve Carell, Colman Domingo, Kerri Kenney-Silver, and Erika Henningsen for the show written by Fey, Fisher, and Wigfield.
The Four Seasons, a retread of the 1981 Universal movie of the same name, is a co-creation between Fey, her 30 Rock co-star Lang Fisher, and Tracey Wigfield. Details about Forte’s character remain a mystery, though the cast list for Alan Alda’s 1981 comedy could provide some clues. In 1981’s The Four Seasons, three couples vacation together every season. After one couple divorces, feelings of betrayal and more spawn criticisms of one another, but the things that keep them together are stronger than those that might tear them apart. Alan Alda directed and wrote the 1981 version,...
The Four Seasons, a retread of the 1981 Universal movie of the same name, is a co-creation between Fey, her 30 Rock co-star Lang Fisher, and Tracey Wigfield. Details about Forte’s character remain a mystery, though the cast list for Alan Alda’s 1981 comedy could provide some clues. In 1981’s The Four Seasons, three couples vacation together every season. After one couple divorces, feelings of betrayal and more spawn criticisms of one another, but the things that keep them together are stronger than those that might tear them apart. Alan Alda directed and wrote the 1981 version,...
- 6/28/2024
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
HBO has always had a certain level of quality associated with it. From its early days of bringing big theatrical movies to the living room, to producing some of the most beloved shows of all time like "The Sopranos," it's a brand people associate with a particular standard of excellence. That HBO logo means something, and that association is not easy to accomplish. That being the case, it has been of paramount importance to Warner Bros. Discovery that they preserve the HBO brand at all costs. That has been tricky ever since Discovery purchased WarnerMedia in 2022, with David Zaslav taking over as CEO. But the Hollywood studio just made a move that suggests Zaslav and Co. know damn well the importance of HBO.
As reported by Variety, HBO and Max content CEO Casey Bloys has revealed that several shows that were initially going to be streaming originals made for Max are now becoming HBO originals.
As reported by Variety, HBO and Max content CEO Casey Bloys has revealed that several shows that were initially going to be streaming originals made for Max are now becoming HBO originals.
- 6/26/2024
- by Ryan Scott
- Slash Film
The medium of animation has been getting quite the boost in recent years, with more and more high-budget offerings making their way to streaming services and theatres. There has been a slew of great shows in recent years that leveraged the medium of animation to tell unique stories, such as Blue Eye Samurai, Arcane, and even X-Men ’97.
Coyote vs. Acme || WB
However, there are also some great shows of the past and even some that were released much more recently, that their respective studios saw fit to cut short, given that they were not able to meet the goals that were set for them, whether it be viewership or merchandise sale.
Be it on streaming services like Netflix, or on television channels like Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon, fans have been flooding the internet with the shows they wish to see return, given that a renewed campaign has been taking...
Coyote vs. Acme || WB
However, there are also some great shows of the past and even some that were released much more recently, that their respective studios saw fit to cut short, given that they were not able to meet the goals that were set for them, whether it be viewership or merchandise sale.
Be it on streaming services like Netflix, or on television channels like Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon, fans have been flooding the internet with the shows they wish to see return, given that a renewed campaign has been taking...
- 6/25/2024
- by Anuraag Chatterjee
- FandomWire
It is not exactly a lateral move going from serving President Obama to serving the President (and CEO) of Warner Bros. Discovery, but Robert Gibbs still has his work cut out for him.
Gibbs, who was President Barack Obama’s first White House press secretary, has joined Warner Bros. Discovery (Wbd) as its chief communications and public affairs officer, the company announced on Tuesday. As of August 5, 2024, he will oversee its corporate and business communications as well as its public affairs. In other words, he will be David Zaslav’s direct mouthpiece.
Zaslav could use one. His former comms chief, Nathaniel Brown, exited in January, a bit ahead of all that “Coyote vs. Acme” drama. Brown was certainly in the thick of things for the “Batgirl” saga.
In a press statement announcing Gibbs, Zaslav called his new direct report “the right leader” for “this transformative time in our industry.”
For...
Gibbs, who was President Barack Obama’s first White House press secretary, has joined Warner Bros. Discovery (Wbd) as its chief communications and public affairs officer, the company announced on Tuesday. As of August 5, 2024, he will oversee its corporate and business communications as well as its public affairs. In other words, he will be David Zaslav’s direct mouthpiece.
Zaslav could use one. His former comms chief, Nathaniel Brown, exited in January, a bit ahead of all that “Coyote vs. Acme” drama. Brown was certainly in the thick of things for the “Batgirl” saga.
In a press statement announcing Gibbs, Zaslav called his new direct report “the right leader” for “this transformative time in our industry.”
For...
- 6/18/2024
- by Tony Maglio
- Indiewire
Look up “cartoon villain” in the dictionary, and you’re likely to find a picture of David Zaslav. Since taking over Warner Bros. Discovery, he’s cast aside not one, but two feature-length Looney Tunes projects. Last November, there was the live-action/animated hybrid “Coyote vs. Acme,” which was given the “Batgirl” treatment. Lower profile but no less deserving of a proper release, WB Animation’s hand-drawn Porky Pig and Daffy Duck stand-alone “The Day the Earth Blew Up” was made for Max, but went on the block last fall. It’s still looking for U.S. distribution.
Fortunately, that didn’t stop the Annecy Animation Festival from giving “The Day the Earth Blew Up” its world premiere — and, one hopes, a better shot at seeing the light of day. As it turns out, “Day” is funnier than any film the studio has put out since “The Lego Movie 2...
Fortunately, that didn’t stop the Annecy Animation Festival from giving “The Day the Earth Blew Up” its world premiere — and, one hopes, a better shot at seeing the light of day. As it turns out, “Day” is funnier than any film the studio has put out since “The Lego Movie 2...
- 6/12/2024
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
Back in October, we learned that Warner Bros. Animation and director Pete Browngardt are set to bring us a new Looney Tunes Movie that sounds like a blast: it’s called The Day the Earth Blew Up, and it’s a sci-fi comedy adventure about Daffy Duck and Porky Pig dealing with an alien invasion! The movie is expected to reach theatres later this year, although a release date hasn’t yet been announced – and in anticipation of the release, a sneak peek video has arrived online! In the clip embedded above, we get to see how Daffy and Porky prepare for a home inspection.
In The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie, Daffy and Porky (both voiced by Eric Bauza) learn that aliens are plotting to overtake the planet, which leads the pair to put their differences aside and help save the world.
The Day the...
In The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie, Daffy and Porky (both voiced by Eric Bauza) learn that aliens are plotting to overtake the planet, which leads the pair to put their differences aside and help save the world.
The Day the...
- 6/11/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Porky Pig and Daffy Duck probably won’t be heading for a career in real estate, as seen in a new preview clip from the forthcoming theatrical release The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie.
Director Pete Browngardt’s sci-fi comedy from Warner Bros. Animation is set to hit theaters domestically later this year but does not yet have an announced release date. The project focuses on Porky and Daffy (both voiced by Eric Bauza) learning that aliens are plotting to overtake the planet, which leads the pair to put their differences aside and help save the world.
The sequence shows the Looney Tunes mainstays cutting countless corners while attempting to prepare their home ahead of an inspection. “Well, Porky, we’re all finished,” Daffy says triumphantly. “Here’s to passing this inspection and living another year just the way we like it.”
This leads a conflicted Porky to hesitantly respond,...
Director Pete Browngardt’s sci-fi comedy from Warner Bros. Animation is set to hit theaters domestically later this year but does not yet have an announced release date. The project focuses on Porky and Daffy (both voiced by Eric Bauza) learning that aliens are plotting to overtake the planet, which leads the pair to put their differences aside and help save the world.
The sequence shows the Looney Tunes mainstays cutting countless corners while attempting to prepare their home ahead of an inspection. “Well, Porky, we’re all finished,” Daffy says triumphantly. “Here’s to passing this inspection and living another year just the way we like it.”
This leads a conflicted Porky to hesitantly respond,...
- 6/10/2024
- by Ryan Gajewski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
When Warner Bros. Discovery dropped an anvil on Coyote vs. Acme, it was like Batgirl all over again — except it might have been an even bigger blow. While it’s up for serious questioning as to whether or not Batgirl was truly “unreleasable”, Coyote vs. Acme was by most accounts looking to be a pretty darn good movie. Now, the directors of Batgirl are showing their support for a fellow Wbd movie that was left hovering over a cliff’s edge.
Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, the directors behind Batgirl, showed their concern over how studios are willing to openly discard films, particularly name-checking the director of Coyote vs. Acme. “It’s an extra thing to worry about in Hollywood, and that’s sad. I think that we all are artists. We are friends with director Dave Green; he’s our boy. We hope that he will be able...
Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, the directors behind Batgirl, showed their concern over how studios are willing to openly discard films, particularly name-checking the director of Coyote vs. Acme. “It’s an extra thing to worry about in Hollywood, and that’s sad. I think that we all are artists. We are friends with director Dave Green; he’s our boy. We hope that he will be able...
- 6/1/2024
- by Mathew Plale
- JoBlo.com
Mystery Inc. rides again! Variety is reporting that the long-running "Scooby-Doo" franchise may be making a leap back to the live-action world, this time courtesy of Netflix. Sources tell the outlet that, unlike past versions of the Hanna-Barbera-created franchise, the new series won't be a comedic mystery but a one-hour drama series. Warner Bros. Television, which has been responsible for other dark teen-centric Netflix shows like "Chilling Adventures of Sabrina" and "Dead Boy Detectives," is set to produce.
Though the deal apparently isn't set in stone yet, the untitled "Scooby-Doo" live-action project is apparently in talks to receive a script-to-series commitment, with the team from Arrowverse maestro Greg Berlanti's Berlanti Productions (which also helped bring the two above titles to life) set to produce. Josh Appelbaum and Scott Rosenberg, the creative duo that co-executive produced shows like Hulu's "High Fidelity" and MGM+'s underrated "From," are set to...
Though the deal apparently isn't set in stone yet, the untitled "Scooby-Doo" live-action project is apparently in talks to receive a script-to-series commitment, with the team from Arrowverse maestro Greg Berlanti's Berlanti Productions (which also helped bring the two above titles to life) set to produce. Josh Appelbaum and Scott Rosenberg, the creative duo that co-executive produced shows like Hulu's "High Fidelity" and MGM+'s underrated "From," are set to...
- 4/29/2024
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
Jessica Lange is calling out modern Hollywood for not valuing the “creative process” of filmmaking.
The “Feud” actress told Vulture that “artistic impulse” is squashed by the “corporate profit motive,” much like Warner Bros. Discovery canning almost-completed films like “Batgirl” and “Coyote vs. Acme” for tax write-off purposes. Of that in particular, Lange said, “There should be a law against it.”
“We’re living in a corporate world and it certainly has rolled over into the film industry,” Lange said. “So much of the industry now is not about the creative process. Obviously, this is not across the board, but there are many instances where I feel like the artistic impulse is overwhelmed by the corporate profit motive.”
Lange instead cited international features for being more bold in their storytelling.
“You look at some of the best films of the past year — what do they have in common? They’re not from America,...
The “Feud” actress told Vulture that “artistic impulse” is squashed by the “corporate profit motive,” much like Warner Bros. Discovery canning almost-completed films like “Batgirl” and “Coyote vs. Acme” for tax write-off purposes. Of that in particular, Lange said, “There should be a law against it.”
“We’re living in a corporate world and it certainly has rolled over into the film industry,” Lange said. “So much of the industry now is not about the creative process. Obviously, this is not across the board, but there are many instances where I feel like the artistic impulse is overwhelmed by the corporate profit motive.”
Lange instead cited international features for being more bold in their storytelling.
“You look at some of the best films of the past year — what do they have in common? They’re not from America,...
- 4/26/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Jessica Lange spoke critically of present-day Hollywood during a recent interview with Vulture, saying “there should be a law against it” when the topic came up about Warner Bros. Discovery axing already-shot movies like “Batgirl” and “Coyote vs. Acme” for tax write-off purposes. This topic became a launching pad for some of Lange’s wider criticisms of today’s entertainment industry.
“We’re living in a corporate world and it certainly has rolled over into the film industry,” Lange said. “So much of the industry now is not about the creative process. Obviously, this is not across the board, but there are many instances where I feel like the artistic impulse is overwhelmed by the corporate profit motive. You look at some of the best films of the past year — what do they have in common? They’re not from America. My favorite was ‘Anatomy of a Fall.’ How often...
“We’re living in a corporate world and it certainly has rolled over into the film industry,” Lange said. “So much of the industry now is not about the creative process. Obviously, this is not across the board, but there are many instances where I feel like the artistic impulse is overwhelmed by the corporate profit motive. You look at some of the best films of the past year — what do they have in common? They’re not from America. My favorite was ‘Anatomy of a Fall.’ How often...
- 4/25/2024
- by Zack Sharf
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Netflix’s new feature Boss Dan Lin has tapped former DreamWorks Animation and Coyote Vs. Acme producer Chris deFaria to consult for the streamer’s animation department, we hear on very good authority.
Lin and deFaria worked together on the mega success of The Lego Movie when the duo were at Warners. Essentially, what is being sorted at Netflix is how to eventize their animation movies more. The streamer, together with Annapurna, saved the Blue Sky axed Disney LGBTQ+ movie Nimona, a casualty of the Disney-Fox merger; the pic wound up getting an Oscar nomination for Animated Feature.
Animation reports into Lin. Karen Toliver serves as VP of Animated Film.
At Warners deFaria worked as the president of Animation and Innovative Technology. He held that position for four years between 2013 and 2017, which included co-oversight of the studio’s Warner Animation Group. While at Warners, deFaria’s credits included Man of Steel,...
Lin and deFaria worked together on the mega success of The Lego Movie when the duo were at Warners. Essentially, what is being sorted at Netflix is how to eventize their animation movies more. The streamer, together with Annapurna, saved the Blue Sky axed Disney LGBTQ+ movie Nimona, a casualty of the Disney-Fox merger; the pic wound up getting an Oscar nomination for Animated Feature.
Animation reports into Lin. Karen Toliver serves as VP of Animated Film.
At Warners deFaria worked as the president of Animation and Innovative Technology. He held that position for four years between 2013 and 2017, which included co-oversight of the studio’s Warner Animation Group. While at Warners, deFaria’s credits included Man of Steel,...
- 4/25/2024
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
David Zaslav, the boss of Warner Bros Discovery, has been praised for his “exceptional leadership” and given nearly $50m in 2023.
If you’re willing to be the kind of media boss willing to delete completed films as a tax write-off rather than release them? Well, it sure does pay the bills.
Just before the weekend, we learned that Warner Bros Discovery boss David Zaslav received $49.7m in remuneration in the year ending 2023. That’s an increase of 26.5 percent on the year before, and since he’s been in post in his job, he’s also benefitted from around $200m in stock option grants as well.
It’s an incredible reward for a CEO who’s overseen cost cutting throughout Warner Bros Discovery, apart from when it comes to his own salary. It’s under David Zaslav’s tenure that Warner Bros has earned a fresh and unwanted reputation for junking completed films,...
If you’re willing to be the kind of media boss willing to delete completed films as a tax write-off rather than release them? Well, it sure does pay the bills.
Just before the weekend, we learned that Warner Bros Discovery boss David Zaslav received $49.7m in remuneration in the year ending 2023. That’s an increase of 26.5 percent on the year before, and since he’s been in post in his job, he’s also benefitted from around $200m in stock option grants as well.
It’s an incredible reward for a CEO who’s overseen cost cutting throughout Warner Bros Discovery, apart from when it comes to his own salary. It’s under David Zaslav’s tenure that Warner Bros has earned a fresh and unwanted reputation for junking completed films,...
- 4/22/2024
- by Simon Brew
- Film Stories
This ought to go over just fine on Twitter/X. Warner Bros. Discovery President and CEO David Zaslav’s executive compensation for 2023 was $49.7 million, according to a new filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.
Here’s how the near-$50-million haul breaks down: Zaslav’s salary actually dipped a hair from 2022 to $3 million, his stock awards practically doubled to $23.1 million, and his non-equity incentive plan compensation stayed pretty steady at $22 million. Along with $1.6 million in the “other” category — pocket change, really — Zaslav’s 2023 compensation package was about 27 percent larger than his 2022 pay of $39.3 million.
Zaslav’s Discovery, Inc. merged with AT&T’s WarnerMedia on April 8, 2022. With a crazy options package revealed ahead of the closure, Zaslav’s estimated executive compensation for 2021 was $246.6 million — nearly $203 million of that from options. But here’s the rub: Options awards are not guaranteed, rather they are tied to the company’s stock price. If...
Here’s how the near-$50-million haul breaks down: Zaslav’s salary actually dipped a hair from 2022 to $3 million, his stock awards practically doubled to $23.1 million, and his non-equity incentive plan compensation stayed pretty steady at $22 million. Along with $1.6 million in the “other” category — pocket change, really — Zaslav’s 2023 compensation package was about 27 percent larger than his 2022 pay of $39.3 million.
Zaslav’s Discovery, Inc. merged with AT&T’s WarnerMedia on April 8, 2022. With a crazy options package revealed ahead of the closure, Zaslav’s estimated executive compensation for 2021 was $246.6 million — nearly $203 million of that from options. But here’s the rub: Options awards are not guaranteed, rather they are tied to the company’s stock price. If...
- 4/19/2024
- by Tony Maglio
- Indiewire
When we think of the antics of the Roadrunner and Wile E. Coyote, there is one iconic image that comes to mind: Wile E. Coyote running full-steam after his nemesis, only to be outsmarted and finding himself running past a cliff’s edge, defying gravity by hovering in the air, nowhere to go but down. Only after the realization of doom does he fall. It’s a perfect metaphor for what happened with Warner Bros.’ abandoned Coyote vs. Acme movie, which the studio shelved last year as a tax write-off despite major hype. But could the movie actually emerge from the tunnel and see the light of day? Maybe, although we’d be as foolish as the coyote to believe it just yet.
According to one spokesperson for Warner Bros., the idea that the studio could use Coyote vs. Acme as a write-off is at this time “inaccurate”, with The...
According to one spokesperson for Warner Bros., the idea that the studio could use Coyote vs. Acme as a write-off is at this time “inaccurate”, with The...
- 4/15/2024
- by Mathew Plale
- JoBlo.com
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