Could This Save Shelved LOONEY TUNES Movie COYOTE VS. ACME?
By Movieguide® Contributor
Ketchup Entertainment might save the LOONEY TUNES movie COYOTE VS. ACME after Warner Bros. shelved the feature a little over a year ago.
According to Deadline, Ketchup Entertainment is negotiating an “all-rights acquisition in the $50 million range for the animated/live-action hybrid project.” Last year, the company rescued THE DAY THE EARTH BLEW UP, another LOONEY TUNES-based movie.
Warner Bros. axed the finished COYOTE VS. ACME over a year ago, citing a “re-launch of Warner Bros. Pictures Animation.”
“With the re-launch of Warner Bros. Pictures Animation in June, the studio has shifted its global strategy to focus on theatrical releases,” a spokesperson told Variety in 2023. “With this new direction, we have made the difficult decision not to move forward with COYOTE VS. ACME. We have tremendous respect for the filmmakers, casts and crew and are grateful for their contributions to the film.”
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The decision to cut the movie from its release schedule came after COYOTE VS. ACME had finished filming. It stars John Cena and Lana Condor, was directed by Dave Green and produced by DC Studios’ James Gunn.
Green shared his thoughts on X following the studio’s decision to shelve.
“For three years, I was lucky enough to make a movie about Wile E. Coyote, the most persistent, passionate, and resilient character of all time,” he wrote. “I was surrounded by a brilliant team, who poured their souls into this project for years. We were all determined to honor the legacies of these historic characters and actually get them right. Along the ride, we were embraced by test audiences who rewarded us with fantastic scores. I am beyond proud of the final product, and beyond devastated by WB’s decision. But in the spirit of Wile E. Coyote, resilience and persistence win the day.”
The film is not quite over the finish line yet, but a deal with Ketchup Entertainment should it be finalized soon. If all goes according to plan, COYOTE VS. ACME would be expected to hit theaters in 2026.
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