Wile E. Coyote’s legal battle with the Acme Corporation, accused of sabotaging his skirmishes with the Road Runner by way of faulty products, is heading to court as Coyote vs. Acme finally heads to movie theaters. Warner Bros. shelved the film in 2023, but widespread backlash led to it being acquired for global distribution by Ketchup Entertainment.
Ketchup Entertainment, which recently released The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie, landed the live-action/animated hybrid film for around $50 million, according to The Wrap. In 2023, it was reported that Warner Bros. was using the movie as an estimated $30 million tax write-off, rather than allowing it to be released in theaters or on streaming services. It reportedly cost $70 million to make and was originally scheduled for release on July 21, 2023.
“We’re thrilled to have made a deal with Warner Bros. Pictures to bring this film to audiences worldwide,” Ketchup Entertainment CEO Gareth West said in a statement. “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.”
John Cena and Lana Condor star in Coyote vs. Acme from director Dave Green and producer James Gunn. It’s based on the classic Looney Tunes character and The New Yorker humor article “Coyote v. Acme” by Ian Frazier published in February 1990. The film tested well with audiences, a source told Rolling Stone in 2023, but Warner Bros. said at the time that pulling the film was part of a “shift [in] its global strategy to focus on theatrical releases.” Shortly after, the studio announced it would allow an outside distributor to purchase the film.
The long-awaited release of Coyote vs. Acme is expected to be scheduled for 2026. It’s cause for celebration for the cast and crew who labored on the film. When it was first shelved, the film’s editor, Carsten Kurpanek, told Rolling Stone that he and his team were “heartbroken” by the news. “As artists, we pour ourselves into these projects,” he said. “This film was me for the last two and a half years. It will always be a part of me. I even got a Wile E. Coyote tattoo on my right arm the week we delivered the movie before I left London — to remind me of the challenges we face while we pursue our goals. This erasure hurts on a personal level.”
From Rolling Stone US
