Coyote vs. Acme Resurfaces: A Fresh Start After Warner Bros. Shelving

A significant move has emerged from Ketchup Entertainment, which has acquired global distribution rights to the Looney Tunes film “Coyote vs. Acme,” previously shelved by Warner Bros. The terms of the deal, confirmed on Monday, remain undisclosed.

This acquisition revives one of three films that Warner Bros. opted against releasing in 2023, electing instead to take a tax write-off. This controversial decision followed a leadership overhaul at the studio and has drawn criticism from both creators and audiences. The other two films, the $90 million “Batgirl” and the animated “Scoob! Holiday Haunt,” continue to be unreleased.

“Coyote vs. Acme” now has a chance to reach theaters, with Ketchup Entertainment planning a release date that has yet to be announced. Gareth West, the CEO of Ketchup, expressed enthusiasm about the film’s potential. “We’re thrilled to have made a deal with Warner Bros. Pictures to bring this film to audiences worldwide,” he stated, highlighting the blend of nostalgia and modern storytelling.

Directed by Dave Green, the film is inspired by a New Yorker article by Ian Frazier. It centers around Wile E. Coyote’s legal battle against Acme Corporation over countless defective products that have thwarted his attempts to catch the Road Runner. The film features a live-action and animated hybrid format, starring John Cena and Will Forte.

Reports suggest that Ketchup purchased “Coyote vs. Acme” for approximately $50 million, even though production costs reached $70 million. Ketchup Entertainment, founded in 2012, has also previously released another Warner Bros. title, “The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie,” which grossed $8.2 million domestically in its first three weeks.