Lana Condor, star of the unreleased Coyote vs. Acme movie, has revealed that the project received a “funeral screening” when news of its cancellation was first broken. Originally slated for a 2023 release, Warner Bros. Discovery came under fire when it was announced that they were shelving the completed movie in favor of a reported $30 million tax write-off. However, since that initial announcement, the studio reversed its decision and eventually allowed the filmmakers to shop for other distributors. However, it was also reported that they had rejected bids from the likes of Amazon MGM Studios, Netflix, and Apple Studios.

Speaking with ScreenRant at this year’s Valiant One press junket, Condor responded to questions about whether Coyote vs. Acme will ever see the light of day. Describing the movie’s initial cancellation as “the most devastating thing in my career thus far,” the star admitted that she has no idea about the movie’s current status or the likelihood of it ever being released. She did, however, reveal that when it was first cancelled by Warner Bros. Discovery, she was invited to attend a “funeral screening, which [was] the saddest thing ever.” Check out her comments below:

I have zero update. That’s probably definitely the most devastating thing in my career thus far. Yeah, I loved that movie so, so much. I had the honor of working with incredible artists for it, and we built the most amazing worlds and we got to work with phenomenal puppeteers and CGI and just all these things, and it was so nostalgic and I loved the story through and through and we had a blast making it. And I am genuinely heartbroken that there’s a world that no one will ever see it for tax purposes, I think. That’s so, so sad. And when I got the news, they invited me to a funeral screening, which is the saddest thing ever.

Condor also suggested that when she first learned the news, she had thought that perhaps the finished product may not have been up to par, but the movie’s screening prompted her to consider it the best work of her career. See her final comments below:

The film was predominantly myself, Will Forte and John Cena. We were kind of the only humans. Everything else was all green screen and everything, so I didn’t really know what it was going to look like. So when I went to the funeral screening, I thought to myself, ‘Maybe the movie isn’t good and maybe I was wrong.’ Watched the film, and I personally think it was my best work I’ve ever done. And I think it was funny and kind and put a real positive message. That was really, truly devastating for me, for me, and for everyone.

What Lana Condor’s Comments Reveal About Coyote vs. Acme’s Fate

It Is Still Unclear Whether Audiences Will Ever See The Finished Product

Despite the confusion surrounding Coyote vs. Acme’s initial cancellation and the subsequent reversal from Warner Bros. Discovery, the last official news about the film’s status came in the form of a statement made by a studio spokesperson to the New York Times in April 2024. Admitting that while the movie’s future remains unclear, the spokesperson indicated that it was still available for acquisition and that the original reports of a $30 million tax saving were “inaccurate.”

Since then, additional news regarding the movie’s future has been scant, and Condor’s most recent comments indicate that even Coyote vs. Acme’s cast has no additional knowledge. However, Condor is not alone in singing the project’s praises. Last year, her co-star John Cena also lamented the decision, suggesting that he loves the movie, and “his heart and soul is in there.” Though Cena was somewhat more circumspect in his appraisal of Warner Bros. Discovery’s underlying motives and likes to think that it was ultimately done “for the right reasons.”

Our Take On Coyote vs. Acme’s Chances

There Is Still A Small Chance It Could See The Light Of Day

Unlike Warner Bros. Discovery’s controversial shelving of the Batgirl movie, it would seem that there is still some remote chance that audiences could still potentially see Coyote vs. Acme released. While that likelihood would decrease with each pᴀssing day, it would not be the first time a movie’s release has experienced considerable delay while waiting for a suitable distribution bid. With any luck, Condor’s disappointment may eventually be turned around, and audiences will finally get their chance to see Wiley E. Coyote take his legal battle to the notorious Acme Corporation.