For close to a century, many generations have been able to enjoy the iconic cartoon series,Looney Tunes. A property ofWarner Bros. Discovery, it had been announced that the company would be pullingLooney Tunesof its platforms. Set to get the axe were decades worth of classicLooney Tunesshorts, as well asThe Looney Tunes Show, which had ran from 2011 to 2013, and a 2003 film. However, in a much appreciated turn of events,Warner Bros. Discovery have clarified thatLooney Tunesshorts will not be leaving Max after all.
The company and its leading man,David Zaslavhave, for many reasons, not been in the favor of industry onlookers and as such, the outcry on social media against the perceivedLooney Tunesdecision were vociferous. “Looney Tunes was included in error as a title leaving the platform,” read the statement clarifying the status of the classic carton on the streamer. “This is not the case and the show will continue streaming on Max.”
This error comes on the back ofthe Zaslav-run company’s decison to shelve the already-completedCoyote Vs. Acme. The animation and live-action hybrid which starsJohn Cenaand hasJames Gunnserving as producer,was getting canned for a tax writeoff. The company ultimately walked back the decision,deciding to set up screenings for streamers who might be interested in making a purchase. While it seemed WBD weren’t quite trusting of their final product, the filmenjoyed the stamp of approvalfrom high-profile creatives likeSpider-Man: Across the Spider-VerseduoChristopher MillerandPhil Lord. “I sawCoyote Vs. Acmeand it’s delightful,” Miller wrote about the film. “Funny, charming, good physical comedy timing, with a surprising amount of heart. I hope several studios go after it so the world can see all the good work people did.”
‘Looney Tunes: Back in Action’ Does Not Survive
While the classic shorts will remain on Max, the same can’t be said for other titles in theLooney Tunesfamily. Staying afloat on Max has been a challenge, as earlier in the year,over 200 classicLooney Tunesshorts were pulled from the streamer. At the time, 256 TheLooney TunesandMerrie Melodiesshorts were removed as part of the merger between Warner Bros. and Discovery. The otherLooney Tunestitle which has not been able to escape the axe and is set to be removed from Max on December 31 is the 2003 film,Looney Tunes: Back in Action. The live-action and animated film hybrid was directed byJoe Dante, and starred the likes ofBrendan Fraser,Jenna ElfmanandSteve Martin.
