"Coyote vs. Acme," the film that sparked a social media frenzy when Warner Bros. controversially axed it for a tax deduction, may yet resurface from the shadows. Indie powerhouse Ketchup Entertainment has cast its eyes on acquiring the rights to this cinematic gem, which boasts an ensemble including Will Forte, John Cena, and a sprightly animated Wile E. Coyote.
Ketchup and Warner Bros. have been in negotiations for some time over a deal worth approximately $50 million, aiming to breathe life into the project and bring it to theaters in 2026. However, the fate of this agreement remains uncertain, with Warner Bros. declining to offer any comment.
Ketchup Entertainment has a proven track record of reviving Looney Tunes movies for the big screen. It previously distributed "The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie" after Warner Bros. Discovery opted to offload the film rather than release it themselves. This venture has since grossed $5.5 million globally in its wide release last weekend.
Beyond its association with Looney Tunes, Ketchup has also backed a diverse slate of projects, including "Hellboy: The Crooked Man," the Ben Affleck-starrer "Hypnotic," and Michael Mann's "Ferrari."
"Coyote vs. Acme," budgeted at $70 million, catapulted itself into Hollywood gossip when The Hollywood Reporter revealed in November 2023 that Warner Bros. intended to scrap the movie. The backlash was swift and fierce, with multiple filmmakers reportedly instructing their agents to cancel meetings at the studio. Warner Bros. eventually reversed their decision, allowing director Dave Green to seek out alternative buyers—a move Green had been preparing for when Warner Bros. unexpectedly pulled the plug.
Green presented the film to various potential suitors, with one source claiming that a bid neared $40 million. However, other sources contest that no formal offers were ever made by the dozen distributors who viewed the movie, nor did Warner Bros. reject any.
In February 2024, the company took a $115 million writedown on undisclosed projects, one of which was speculated to be "Coyote vs. Acme."
The saga of "Coyote vs. Acme" unfolds 15 months after Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav stunned Hollywood by canceling "Batgirl" and "Scoob! Holiday Haunt" for tax write-offs.
"It's such a delightful movie. It deserves so much better... I can't fathom the reasoning behind the decision to not release it, but it boils my blood," Forte lamented last month when questioned about the film.
