Will Forte, John Cena’s shelved ‘Coyote vs. Acme’ finds new home

Just like Wile E. Coyote, the previously-shelved Coyote vs. Acme can’t be killed.

After Warner Bros. dropped an anvil on the completed movie Coyote vs. Acme by scrapping it for a tax write-off, the studio found the live-action/animated hybrid film a new home. Ketchup Entertainment announced on Monday that it acquired the worldwide distribution rights thanks to director Dave Green shopping it around. The company is planning a theatrical release for a to-be-determined date.

“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.”

Based on a comedic piece published in The New Yorker in 1990, Coyote vs. Acme is produced and co-written by James Gunn and stars John Cena, Will Forte, Lana Condor, and Tone Bell. The movie centers on a lawsuit filed by Wile E. Coyote and his lawyer (Forte) against the Acme corporation for the countless faulty products that have hindered his relentless pursuit of the Road Runner.

News of the movie’s potential sale broke in November, just days after Warner Bros. shelved it, seemingly dooming it to the same fate as Batgirl and Scoob! Holiday Haunt, which were abruptly pulled from WB’s release schedule for tax write-downs in 2023. Those moves were widely criticized at the time, and the decision to shelve Coyote vs. Acme was similarly controversial, especially given Looney Tunes’ status as an iconic brand for the studio. According to The Hollywood Reporter, several filmmakers canceled upcoming meetings with Warner Bros. after the news broke.

Want more movie news? Sign up for Entertainment Weekly‘s free newsletter to get the latest trailers, celebrity interviews, film reviews, and more.

Green and several others who worked on the movie lamented the initial cancellation on social media. “For three years, I was lucky enough to make a movie about Wile E. Coyote, the most persistent, passionate, and resilient character of all time,” the director wrote. “I was surrounded by a brilliant team, who poured their souls into this project for years. We were all determined to honor the legacies of these historic characters and actually get them right. Along the ride, we were embraced by test audiences who rewarded us with fantastic scores. I am beyond proud of the final product, and beyond devastated by WB’s decision. But in the spirit of Wile E. Coyote, resilience and persistence win the day.”

Meanwhile, composer Steven Price shared behind-the-scenes footage of the film’s soundtrack being recorded and called the shelving “bizarre anti-art studio financial shenanigans,” while editor Carsten Kurpanek said, “my heart breaks for all the talented people that made it happen only to see their art erased in favor of accounting.”