Anna Daniels
Amid much bewilderment and disappointment among animation fans, Warner Bros. has made the surprising decision to shelve the release of Genndy Tartakovsky’s eagerly awaited R-rated animated movie Fixed. The film, approved for production a few years back, weaves the tale of a dog’s uproarious last evening before undergoing neutering. Renowned for his contributions to Hotel Transylvania, Tartakovsky poured his unique style and wit into Fixed, which wrapped up production early last year. Despite boasting a star-studded voice cast featuring Adam Devine and Kathryn Hahn, Warner Bros. CEO David Zaslav opted to put the project on hold, aligning with similar choices made concerning Batgirl and Coyote vs. Acme.
The collaboration on Fixed involved Warner Bros.’ New Line and Sony Pictures, yet with Warner Bros. pulling out, the film has reverted to Sony’s control. Sony is now actively seeking a streaming platform or distributor willing to take on the project. However, if no takers emerge, the movie risks languishing unreleased, consigned to the unfortunate category of projects that never reach the audience.
This latest move by Warner Bros. is indicative of a waning interest in animation. The decision to shelve Fixed comes on the heels of the controversial axing of Coyote vs. Acme and the removal of multiple Cartoon Network titles from Max. Compounding the challenges, Warner Bros. Discovery has recently suffered a $10 billion devaluation in the second quarter, largely attributed to its struggling TV ventures.
With the fate of Fixed teetering, fans of Tartakovsky and animated content at large are left in limbo. As Sony pursues new avenues for the film, the looming question remains: Will Fixed secure its audience, or will it fade into obscurity like many unreleased cinematic treasures?
