Coyote vs. Acme Film May Hit Theaters Despite Cancellation

Warner Bros.' shelved film Coyote vs. Acme may soon see the light of day, according to a report by Deadline. The Los Angeles-based independent film production and distribution company, Ketchup Entertainment, is reportedly in deep negotiations to acquire the rights to Coyote vs. Acme. This completed film was previously believed to have been entirely abandoned.

While the deal is not finalized yet, a successful negotiation could lead to a theatrical release of Coyote vs. Acme in 2026. The film, which was announced in 2022, is inspired by a 1990 Ian Frazier article from The New Yorker and co-written by James Gunn. It stars Will Forte and John Cena and was originally slated for a mid-2023 release on Max before being shelved, despite having completed filming. A dedicated campaign to save the movie has been ongoing since its cancellation.

Ketchup Entertainment has previously saved another Warner Bros. project, *The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie*, from a similar fate. By securing its distribution, Ketchup ensured the film's theatrical run in the US, marking it as the first fully animated Looney Tunes movie to hit cinemas. IGN praised the film as a "laugh-out-loud riot."

Ketchup Entertainment's portfolio includes films like Hellboy: The Crooked Man and the Robert Rodriguez thriller Hypnotic, starring Ben Affleck. The company also co-produced Michael Mann's 2023 biopic, Ferrari.