Ketchup Entertainment has acquired the worldwide distribution rights to the live-action/animated hybrid film Coyote vs. Acme from Warner Bros. Pictures. This acquisition comes after Warner Bros. controversially shelved the completed film in 2023, opting instead for a tax write-off valued at $30 million. Ketchup Entertainment’s CEO Gareth West has expressed excitement about the project, emphasizing the film’s blend of nostalgic charm and contemporary storytelling.
Directed by Dave Green and inspired by a 1990 satirical article by Ian Frazier in The New Yorker, Coyote vs. Acme tells the story of Wile E. Coyote as he takes legal action against the Acme Corporation for their consistently malfunctioning products. The cast features John Cena, Will Forte, and Lana Condor in leading roles, merging live-action with animated classics to bring a courtroom comedy with emotional resonance to life.
The film’s journey to the screen has been turbulent. Initially slated for a July 2023 theatrical release, Warner Bros. removed it from its schedule in April 2022 in favor of Barbie. By November 2023, the studio declared that it would not release the movie, prompting widespread backlash from filmmakers, actors, and fans—especially after reports emerged of highly positive test screenings.
Public pressure and interest from independent distributors ultimately led Warner Bros. to reconsider. After negotiations, Ketchup Entertainment secured distribution rights for approximately $50 million. The company now plans to release the film theatrically in 2026, positioning it as a generational bridge between longtime Looney Tunes fans and new audiences.
This is not Ketchup Entertainment’s first foray into the Looney Tunes universe. Earlier this year, they distributed The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie after Warner Bros. declined to release that title as well. With Coyote vs. Acme under its banner, Ketchup continues to stake its claim in rescuing high-profile animated projects and restoring them to the spotlight.
The acquisition marks a symbolic win for creators and audiences pushing back against a growing industry trend of content cancellation for financial maneuvering. Fans and industry professionals alike hope the film’s eventual release will be both a commercial success and a statement on the value of completed creative work.
Sources:
- https://apnews.com/article/411e99589de184d4ba1061116b3c96e7
- https://www.polygon.com/movies/549483/coyote-vs-acme-release-theaters-looney-tunes-movie
- https://www.theverge.com/news/632742/coyote-v-acme-ketchup-entertainment-theatrical-release
- https://www.vulture.com/article/coyote-vs-acme-sale-warner-bros.html
- https://www.screendaily.com/news/ketchup-entertainment-confirms-coyote-vs-acme-acquisition/5203538.article
- https://www.animationmagazine.net/2025/03/ketchup-entertainment-to-release-warner-bros-coyote-vs-acme-in-2026/
- https://screenrant.com/coyote-vs-acme-cast-story-everything-we-know/
- https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/ketchup-entertainment-acquires-coyote-vs-acme-starring-john-cena
- https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1756855/
- https://www.joblo.com/coyote-vs-acme-warners/
- https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/coyote-acme-finds-new-home-after-shelved-warner-120334353
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcHVWRTR3wI
