Is Killing the Coyote vs. Acme Film Real Or The Future of Marketing?

Now that the creative strikes in Hollywood are resolved, studios are finalizing their plans for projects that were all on hold. Unfortunately, this includes announcing that some films will not be released and the slightly anticipated Coyote vs. Acme animated film is among that list. Apparently the rationale is primarily linked to the fact that killing the project will create a $30m tax write-off.

This must be the most frustrating reason for a creative person to have their project shelved. But given the early outcry from fans (many of whom had probably never heard of the film before), perhaps this will turn out to be a diabolically clever way to use our current outrage culture to nurture some demand and audience for the film. It seems like a win-win scenario for the studio.

Either they follow through on burying the project and take the write-off, or become heroes by caving to the public outcry that they themselves created and release the film after all. Clearly the only thing that matters to the decision makers here is the money.