Movies

Warner Bros. killed a Looney Tunes movie starring John Cena. Now it’s back from the dead

BBG News

Similar to how a wounded and weary Roadrunner Cartoon character might hobble away for now, only to return for further adventures later on.

Approximately one and a half years following the halt of production on “Coyote vs. Acme” by Warner Bros. Discovery under David Zaslav’s leadership, discussions are ongoing for the sale of this movie to Ketchup Entertainment – a film finance and distribution company based in North Hollywood.

A potential cost of around $50 million might be involved if both parties manage to agree on terms for the rights transfer, as suggested by an informed source who preferred to remain anonymous.

2023 saw the cancellation of a movie by Warner Bros. Discovery, as part of Zaslav’s strategy to streamline entertainment content due to the company’s need to reduce expenses and organize its finances following the $42-billion acquisition of Warner Bros. and HBO/Turner channels by Discovery. The merger had left Warner Bros. Discovery with a significant amount of debt.

Warner Bros.’ move to scrap “Coyote vs. Acme,” a project previously approved by a different executive team, sparked protests in Hollywood due to the legendary status of Wile E. Coyote and because the movie, which stars Will Forte and John Cena with live-action and animation, was already completed and shown to test audiences. The film, rumored to have cost $70 million, had been finished and screened.

A number of manufacturers expressed their approval through an online campaign on social media following the reports that the movie might no longer be produced.

In response to the jeers, Warner Bros. changed their mind about releasing the movie over a cliff. Instead, they gave director Dave Green permission to look for other potential distributors, with the aim of selling it to one of them.

Ketchup Entertainment’s Gareth West was not immediately available for comment on Wednesday.

Hollywood Inc.

Supporters of ‘Coyote vs. Acme’ – the Looney Tunes film that was initially cancelled but then brought back to life by Warner Bros. Discovery – are uniting in their enthusiasm for this project.

Hollywood industry site Deadline first reported the advanced talks to sell the rights.

The storyline of ‘Coyote vs. Acme’ draws inspiration from beloved Looney Tunes characters and a humorous piece written by The New Yorker, titled “Coyote v. Acme” by Ian Frazier.

The movie, penned by Samy Burch, narrates the struggles of a character living in the desert, who’s had enough of getting harmed by Acme products while chasing the Roadrunner. Tired of the mishaps, Coyote decides to sue the Acme Corporation for product liability, citing issues like malfunctioning rocket skates and damaged aerial bombs. Forte portrays his lawyer in the film.

Should the agreement be finalized, it will clear the path for the movie’s theater release as soon as the following year.

Previously, Ketchup gained control over a former Warner Bros. production featuring Porky Pig titled “The Day the Earth Exploded: A Looney Tunes Film.” This production was launched broadly just last week, and it reportedly earned $3.2 million at the box office as per Comscore’s data.

The strong criticism about the movie’s withdrawal from release made its way to Congress. Representative Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) urged the Biden administration to scrutinize Warner Bros. Discovery’s move to cancel completed films for tax advantages. Notably, among the scrapped productions were “Coyote vs. Acme,” as well as “Batgirl” and “Scoob! Holiday Haunt.

Voices

Commentary: ‘Looney Tunes’ has been removed from Max. This is why it feels like an attack

Max no longer offers the classic Warner Bros. cartoons as part of their programming, a decision that our TV critic compares to taking books out of a library, implying a loss of original content and a shift towards imitations or replicas.

Back in 2023, Green pledged his continued support for the project and its crew.

Green stated in a 2023 release, “I had the good fortune to spend three years crafting a film featuring Wile E. Coyote, an unparalleled character known for his relentless determination, deep passion, and remarkable resilience.

Green stated previously, expressing optimism, that he was surrounded by an exceptional team who devoted years of their passion to this project. He expressed immense pride in the finished product, yet, in the vein of Wile E. Coyote, emphasized that determination and perseverance ultimately triumph.

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2025-03-19 23:01

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