It has not been an easy time to be a Looney Tunes fan lately. Warner Bros. Discovery has done a lot to kind of push them out of existence. The entire catalog of classic cartoons has been removed from the Max streaming service and they didn’t want to release the feature films they had with the classic cartoon characters. One of them recently got released, “The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie.” Then there’s “Coyote Vs. Acme,” which was shelved as a tax-write off with speculation that it was going to be bought by another distributor. Now we can report that the speculation has resulted in a confirmed sale.
Ketchup Entertainment was negotiating a deal to purchase “Coyote Vs. Acme” from Warner Bros. Discovery with a potential theatrical release date in 2026. At the time a sale wasn’t confirmed but Ketchup had remained hopeful that it was going to take place.
The deal has been finalized, reportedly to the tune of $50 million. “We’re thrilled to have made a deal with Warner Bros. Pictures to bring this film to audiences worldwide,” Gareth West, the CEO of Ketchup Entertainment, 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 has an intriguing premise. Wile E. Coyote has had one too many incidents with Acme products failing him in his pursuit to catch Road Runner. After seeing an advertisement for a lawyer, played by Will Forte, the downtrodden coyote decides to sue Acme. This ultimately pits him and his attorney against Acme’s legal representative played by John Cena. This makes matters personal for Forte’s character who used to work with Cena. And because it’s a Looney Tunes movie, shenanigans will surely ensue.
We are thrilled that this film will be getting a theatrical release. Forte is a comedic mastermind and the concept of humans and cartoons intermingling has had wonderful results in this past. Could this be the new “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?” One could only hope. Looney Tunes have been a cultural staple for decades and we’d love to see them back in the limelight in full force.
Once “Coyote Vs. Acme” gets a confirmed release date, we’ll let you know.
