Hollywood Reporter: Warner Bros. Drops Genndy Tartakovsky’s Animated Movie ‘Fixed’ as Sony Hunts for New Buyer

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

Fixed is back on the prowl following Warner Bros. Discovery‘s decision to drop the completed film.

The animated movie from director and co-writer Genndy Tartakovsky is no longer getting a release from Warner Bros. Discovery, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed. A co-production between Sony Pictures Animation and New Line, the feature was set up by the AT&T-owned WarnerMedia before the 2022 merger that led to David Zaslav running Warner Bros. Discovery. Fixed was initially planned for release on the streaming service that was then known as HBO Max.

Warner Bros. Discovery worked with Fixed’s team to cover production costs and enable the filmmakers to find an alternate buyer. Rights for Fixed have reverted to producer Sony, which is shopping the project.

Fixed features the voice talents of Adam DeVine, Idris Elba, Kathryn Hahn, Fred Armisen, Bobby Moynihan and Beck Bennett. The adult-focused animated film centers on Bull (DeVine), a bloodhound who decides to embrace his final night before getting neutered.

This move follows Warner Bros.’ decision not to release Coyote vs. Acme, a hybrid of live-action and CG animation centering on Looney Tunes mainstay Wile E. Coyote that starred John Cena and Will Forte. THR reported late last year that Warner Bros. planned to shelve the movie for a tax write-off. 6-Tartakovsky — who produced Fixed with Michelle Murdocca — helmed the film from a script he co-wrote with Jon Vitti. Tartakovsky has a long history with Warner Bros., having worked on Dexter’s Laboratory and The Powerpuff Girls for Cartoon Network, in addition to Primal and Unicorn: Warriors Eternal for Adult Swim. He took part in Adult Swim’s presentation at this year’s Annecy Animation Festival in France.

Continuing to face financial struggles, Warner Bros. Discovery reported a second-quarter loss of $107 million for its direct-to-consumer unit this week.

Tartakovsky also has history with Sony, having directed the first three films in the studio’s animated Hotel Transylvania franchise that features the voice of Adam Sandler.

During a presentation at Annecy in 2023, Tartakovky teased the R-rated Fixed’s ribald humor. “Once you get past the balls and buttholes, there’s a lot of heart there,” he quipped.

Puck was first to report the news.

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