There are few things stranger in Hollywood than a movie that has already been made, has a recognizable cast, belongs to a major franchise, and still never gets released. Batgirl became one of the most notorious examples of that when Warner Bros. Discovery decided in 2022 that audiences would never get to see the DC film. For years, that appeared to be the end of the story.

But Hollywood has a funny way of resurrecting stories that seemed finished. Coyote vs. Acme was once headed for the same fate, only to spend years trapped in limbo before finding a path to theaters. Now that the film has finally escaped the vault and opened to a respectable box office, the question is becoming harder to ignore: could its unlikely comeback eventually give Batgirl another chance?

Before Batgirl became the movie audiences never got to see, it was one of DC's most anticipated projects. Leslie Grace was cast as Barbara Gordon, with Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah directing and Christina Hodson writing. The cast also included J.K. Simmons as Commissioner Gordon, Brendan Fraser as Firefly and Michael Keaton returning as Batman.

Originally planned for HBO Max, the film followed Barbara as she took on the Batgirl mantle while navigating Gotham and the expectations surrounding her father. Keaton's return made it especially exciting for longtime DC fans, while Grace was set to introduce a new version of a beloved character. And unlike most projects that disappear during development, Batgirl was actually finished. Filming began in Glasgow in November 2021 and wrapped in March 2022.

Then, in August 2022, Warner Bros. Discovery announced that the completed film would not be released on HBO Max or in theaters.

The decision shocked the cast and crew. El Arbi and Fallah took to Instagram that same month, announcing they were “saddened and shocked,” while Grace suddenly found herself at the center of a movie that existed but could not be seen. The cancellation also sparked a strong reaction from fans, particularly around representation and the treatment of completed films. Fast forward to 2023, DC Studios co-head Peter Safran called the movie “not releasable,” seemingly closing the door on any release.

But Batgirl was not the only Warner Bros. movie to suffer that fate.

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And the story of Coyote vs. Acme would prove that a movie can sometimes find a way back.

If Batgirl became the symbol of a completed film that disappeared, Coyote vs. Acme became an unlikely example of what can happen when a shelved movie refuses to stay forgotten. The Looney Tunes comedy, directed by Dave Green and starring Will Forte, John Cena and Lana Condor, had also been completed before Warner Bros. abandoned its planned release. Made for just over $70 million, it was ultimately targeted for a tax write-off, sparking outrage among its filmmakers, cast and fans.

The irony was almost too perfect. The movie follows Wile E. Coyote taking ACME Corporation to court after its products repeatedly ruin his attempts to catch the Road Runner. Behind the scenes, the filmmakers found themselves in their own battle against a giant corporation determined to bury their movie.

A grassroots campaign soon grew around #ReleaseCoyoteVsAcme, including demonstrations outside Warner Bros. One protester famously stood at the studio gates in a Wile E. Coyote costume holding a “Release me!!” sign. That same supporter celebrated the movie's eventual release with a new message: “We f****** did it!” This level of support helped keep the movie in the public conversation, even after the studio appeared to have moved on.

Eventually, Warner Bros. allowed the film to find another distributor. Ketchup Entertainment acquired its worldwide rights in a deal reportedly worth around $50 million, giving Coyote vs. Acme something Batgirl has never received: a genuine second chance. The movie finally reached theaters on August 28, 2026, opening to approximately $15.4 million domestically, second at the weekend box office and marking Ketchup Entertainment's biggest opening to date.

The theatrical release also carried enormous emotional weight for the cast and filmmakers, who had spent years unsure whether audiences would ever see their work. For viewers, the film's unusual journey became part of its appeal. They were not simply watching a Looney Tunes comedy; they were watching a movie they had once been told they would never get to see.

That does not create a direct path for Batgirl. Warner Bros. Discovery has given no indication that it plans to reverse its decision, and Coyote vs. Acme does not change the legal or contractual circumstances surrounding the DC film. But its journey has proved something important: a studio can shelve a movie without necessarily ending its story.

Batgirl arguably has an even stronger built-in audience, with Leslie Grace as Barbara Gordon, Michael Keaton returning as Batman, and Brendan Fraser as Firefly. Fraser has continued to speak about the film's cancellation, while J.K. Simmons has called the studio's handling of it “bizarre.” That is why Coyote vs. Acme matters to the Batgirl conversation. It does not guarantee that audiences will ever see Grace's version of Barbara Gordon, but it has shown that a completed Warner Bros. movie can survive being written off and eventually find a path to theaters.

After all, audiences can accept a movie they dislike. What is much harder to accept is never being given the chance to see it at all.

Warner Bros.’ Almost Binned 'Coyote vs Acme' Becomes Their Highest-Rated Looney Tunes Film

Now that audiences have seen what can happen when a shelved movie is finally allowed to exist, could Batgirl be the next one worth bringing back? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!