Warner Bros. has finalized the sale of its previously shelved live-action/animated hybrid film Coyote Vs Acme, with Ketchup Entertainment confirming today that it has secured worldwide rights to the Looney Tunes-inspired project. The deal, reportedly valued around $50 million, marks a significant turnaround for the movie, which is now slated for a theatrical release in 2026.
The acquisition follows weeks of speculation after Warner Bros. began shopping the film earlier this year. Directed by David Green and written by May December screenwriter Samy Burch, Coyote Vs Acme is produced by Chris deFaria and DC Studios co-head James Gunn. The movie draws inspiration from the classic Looney Tunes characters and Ian Frazier’s humorous New Yorker article “Coyote v. Acme.” It stars Will Forte, John Cena, Lana Condor, and Tone Bell, and centers on Wile E. Coyote’s legal battle against the Acme Corporation after its faulty products repeatedly thwart his pursuit of the Roadrunner. Forte plays Coyote’s lawyer, facing off against his formidable ex-boss (Cena), while an unexpected bond between man and cartoon fuels their fight for justice.
Gareth West, CEO of Ketchup Entertainment, expressed enthusiasm about the acquisition. “We’re thrilled to have made a deal with Warner Bros. Pictures to bring this film to audiences worldwide,” West said. “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.”
The film’s journey to the screen has been turbulent. Despite positive test screenings, Coyote Vs Acme was shelved two years ago as part of Warner Bros.’ cost-cutting measures, languishing for over a year. In early 2024, the studio screened it for potential buyers, setting an asking price of approximately $70 million—its reported production cost—but received no takers at the time. The decision to shelve the project sparked backlash, with suggestions of a potential tax write-down drawing ire from industry figures like Lego Movie director Phil Lord and star Will Forte, who called the move “fcking bullsht.”
Ketchup Entertainment’s purchase represents a record investment for the company, known for releases like Goodrich starring Michael Keaton, the comic book reboot Hellboy: The Crooked Man, Ben Affleck’s Hypnotic, and Michel Franco’s Memory with Jessica Chastain. The deal not only revives a high-profile casualty of studio belt-tightening but also promises to bring Wile E. Coyote’s big-screen debut to audiences worldwide.