Coyote vs. Acme fuels talk of a theatrical future for DC’s canceled Batgirl
A curveball from another project could reopen the door to theaters for Batgirl, putting Leslie Grace’s canceled DC movie back in play.
After years in limbo, Coyote vs. Acme is actually in theaters. The Looney Tunes hybrid finally opened on August 28, 2026 via indie distributor Ketchup Entertainment , the same movie Warner Bros. once earmarked to scrap entirely.
Its escape from the vault immediately reignites the conversation around Batgirl — the finished DC film Warner Bros. Discovery shelved in 2022. The studio hasn’t signaled any change of heart, but Coyote’s comeback shows a buried movie can, under the right circumstances, find a path to audiences.
Batgirl: finished, then shelved
Before it became a symbol of a movie no one could see, Batgirl was set up as a major DC entry for HBO Max from directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah with a script by Christina Hodson. Its cast blended a new lead with legacy Gotham faces:
- Leslie Grace — Barbara Gordon / Batgirl
- Michael Keaton — Batman
- J.K. Simmons — Commissioner Gordon
- Brendan Fraser — Firefly
Production shot in Glasgow starting in November 2021 and wrapped in March 2022. The story followed Barbara taking up the Batgirl mantle while navigating Gotham — and her father’s expectations — but in August 2022 Warner Bros. Discovery pulled the plug on any release.
“saddened and shocked”
That was how El Arbi and Fallah described the decision on Instagram. Fans pushed back hard too, especially over representation and the idea of burying a completely finished film. In 2023, DC Studios co-head Peter Safran further doused hopes by calling the movie:
“not releasable.”
Cast members have kept the subject alive in interviews — Fraser has spoken repeatedly about the cancellation, while Simmons has called the studio’s handling of the situation “bizarre.”
Coyote vs. Acme’s road back
Directed by Dave Green, the completed live-action /animation comedy was reportedly made for just over $70 million and then targeted for a tax write-off before plans changed. Its ensemble includes:
- Will Forte
- John Cena
- Lana Condor
The premise itself added to the irony: Wile E. Coyote sues ACME after its products repeatedly sabotage his Road Runner schemes. Off-screen, the filmmakers and fans waged their own fight, rallying under #ReleaseCoyoteVsAcme with demonstrations outside the studio. One protester showed up in full Coyote costume with a “Release me!!” sign — and later returned to celebrate with a new one: “We f****** did it!”
Warner Bros. eventually let the film seek a new home. Ketchup Entertainment acquired worldwide rights in a deal reportedly worth around $50 million, then put the movie into theaters on August 28. It opened to approximately $15.4 million domestically — second for the weekend and the biggest opening in Ketchup Entertainment’s history.