The infamous Coyote vs. Acme movie has officially been rescued after Warner Bros. abandoned the film. Starring John Cena, Coyote vs. Acme is a Looney Tunes animated-live-action hybrid feature film. In addition to Cena, the film’s stars include Lana Condor, Will Forte, P.J. Byrne, and Kelsey Leos Montoya. The film has been in development for years and was at one time going to be distributed by Warner Bros., but was later nixed by the distributor.
Per ᴅᴇᴀᴅline, Coyote vs. Acme will now see the light of day again. Ketchup Entertainment has landed distribution rights for Coyote vs. Acme. The group is reportedly paying roughly $50 million for the movie. The expected release date is in 2026. The CEO of Ketchup Entertainment released a statement that is included below:
We’re thrilled to have made a deal with Warner Bros. Pictures to bring this film to audiences worldwide. Coyote Vs Acme is a perfect blend of nostalgia and modern storytelling, capturing the essence of the beloved Looney Tunes characters while introducing them to a new generation. We believe it will resonate with both longtime fans and newcomers alike.
What This Means For Coyote Vs. Acme
Ketchup Is Experienced With Looney Tunes
This means that Coyote vs. Acme can finally be brought into theaters after the movie was shelved by Warner Bros. The movie was initially announced in 2018, with directors, cast members, and other crew members gradually brought onto the project over the course of a few years. The Looney Tunes movie was then sH๏τ in the spring of 2022. Despite its completion, Warner Bros. shelved the film in November 2023 to try to get a tax write-off to aid in some post-pandemic budget cuts.
Warner Bros. allowed the movie’s filmmakers to obtain alternate distribution, with a deal finally reached with Ketchup Entertainment. Ketchup Entertainment is an independent distributor who recently oversaw the release of another Looney Tunes movie, The Day the Earth Blew Up. Given this recent background, Coyote vs. Acme is an exciting opportunity for Ketchup to further establish themselves as a distributor, and create an ongoing foothold in the Looney Tunes universe.
Our Take On The Coyote Vs. Acme News
Ketchup Needs This Movie To Do Better Than This Year’s Looney Tunes Attempt
With the disappointment of Coyote vs. Acme‘s cancellation lingering for over a year, it’s time the film got proper distribution. My one concern with Ketchup Entertainment taking it on is that the distributor did not make much of an impact with The Day the Earth Blew Up, whose publicity was sparse and led to a mere $10.4 million release.
However, Coyote vs. Acme has already received more exposure with the film initially being shelved. The same kind of tax write-off was done with a completed Batgirl around the same time, creating public outcry. The director of the movie, Phil Lord, and Forte have also publically revealed their dismay. With Coyote vs. Acme having more existing interest, however, it has better chances.
Source: ᴅᴇᴀᴅline
