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27 Aug 2026
9m

Coyote vs. Acme finally gets its big break

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The Indicator from Planet Money

The turbulent production and release journey of the film *Coyote vs. Acme* highlights the volatile intersection of creative ambition and corporate financial strategy in Hollywood. After Warner Bros. Discovery initially shelved the completed project for tax write-down purposes—a tactic previously applied to films like *Batgirl*—the movie faced an uncertain future before being acquired by Ketchup Entertainment. This saga underscores the industry's growing risk aversion, where studio heads prioritize debt management and balance sheets over finished creative works. Producer Chris DeFaria and screenwriter Sammy Birch reflect on the surreal experience of having their project trapped in corporate limbo, ultimately advocating for a production model that favors smaller, diverse creative bets over the high-stakes, all-or-nothing approach that currently dominates major studio decision-making.

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