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Looney fans, it’s finally happening. Ketchup previously let it be known that they’ll be giving Coyote vs. Acme a theatrical release sometime in 2026, and now more information has been revealed at a San Diego Comic-Con panel – including the fact that the movie’s release is still over a year away! The official global release date is August 28, 2026.

Now, JustJared has passed along the teaser poster that’s been unveiled for Coyote vs. Acme. The image is simple, but iconic. We’re shown the desert ground with a Wile E. Coyote-shaped hole crashed into it. It harkens back to the famous Merry Melodies cartoon shorts when the Coyote pursued the Road Runner and failed at every turn. There is very little text displayed, with the release date teased and proudly stating, “In theaters.” Check it out below!

Directed by Dave Green from a screenplay by Samy Burch (who crafted...

Coyote vs. Acme is officially back from the dead, and it’s heading to theaters around the world on August 28, 2026. The announcement came during a lively panel at San Diego Comic-Con, where cast and crew celebrated the movie’s surprising return.

The hybrid live-action and animation film, originally made by Warner Bros., was shelved in 2023 as part of a tax write-off move. It seemed like the movie would never see the light of day. But that changed when Ketchup Entertainment stepped in and bought the worldwide rights for around $50 million.

The company had also rescued another abandoned Looney Tunes film, The Day the Earth Blew Up, which ended up making over $15 million worldwide.

Paul Scheer, who hosted the Comic-Con panel, poked fun at the movie’s rocky journey. “This movie wasn’t supposed to come out,” he said. “I heard Warner Bros wouldn’t release the film — I’ve never heard of Warner Bros!

If the long, twist-filled “Coyote vs. Acme” fight for a release was “It’s a Wonderful Life,” then Ketchup Entertainment would be all the townspeople at the end (79-year-old spoiler) chipping in to make sure George Bailey doesn’t go under. That’s as far as the analogy goes, though film fans can easily guess who is Mr. Potter in this scenario.

Regardless, the townspeople have won the day, and “Coyote vs. Acme” is indeed on its way — finally — with a theatrical release set for August 28, 2026. To sum things up as quickly as possible: the $70 million live-action/animated movie was one of a few (paging “Batgirl”) that were shelved in 2023 as tax write-offs for Warner Bros. (to the tune of $30 million), even though the movie had tested well. After a fan outcry, the film was put up for sale to other studios… but then it quickly was dead in the water again,...

If there is one movie studio that has defined what it means for fans and creators to fight for the release of a “scrapped” project, then it is Warner Bros. Discovery. And this has nothing to do with the Synderverse. No, the movie that has been on everyone’s lips for what seems like forever is the Looney Tunes film, Coyote Vs. Acme. Now, after being teased for 2026 a few months ago, the Sdcc panel for the one-time potential tax write-off has now revealed exactly when it will hit theaters.

Directed by Dave Green with a screenplay by Samy Burch from a story by Burch, James Gunn, and Jeremy Slater, Coyote vs. Acme features an all-star cast that includes John Cena, Will Forte, Lana Condor, P. J. Byrne, Tone Bell, Martha Kelly, and the voice of Eric Bauza. While an official synopsis has yet to be released (expect one soon...

Earlier this year, long-time fans of Looney Tunes were hit with pretty good news. After Warner Bros. executives unceremoniously shelved the highly anticipated comedy movie Coyote vs. Acme, help came through Ketchup Entertainment. In a bold and unexpected move, the company acquired the worldwide distribution rights to the movie, meaning that we will get to see it in cinemas. Today at Sdcc, the hype just became real as the company finally unveiled the movie's brand-new release date, and even some behind-closed-doors footage. The adventure is set to premiere in just one year on August 28, 2026, and WB even shared a poster and some new images below.

Will Forte and John Cena Play Two Very Different Lawyers in 'Coyote vs. Acme'

Sadly for those at home, the footage shown at Sdcc was not shared online (at least not yet), but Collider's own Samantha Coley was in attendance to see...

HBO Max has finally announced when The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie will be available for streaming on their catalog. Audiences will be able to enjoy the animated project in the comfort of their homes on June 27. The film placed Porky Pig and Daffy Duck (both characters voiced by Eric Bauza) in the middle of a dangerous adventure, after the protagonists have spent decades entertaining multiple generations through their appearances in the Looney Tunesfranchise. The latest effort from Warner Bros. animation was recently seen on the big screen, but the title's box office performance left much to be desired.

The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie follows Porky and Daffy as they are forced to find money in order to repair their house after a devastating alien attack. The characters have been friends since they were children, with a farmer kindly taking on...

One of the coolest things about the "Final Destination" franchise is that if you were to ask someone which one was their favorite, it would be completely understandable to hear any four of them come up. I cannot envision a world where anyone claims 2009's "The Final Destination" as the best this horror franchise has to offer. With that installment in mind, it almost feels like a minor miracle that the series would not only survive such a franchise-killing sequel but would also lead to an installment that brings "Final Destination" back to its roots in ways no one could have anticipated.

I've seen these movies many, many times, and I will always go to bat for "Final Destination 5" as the series benchmark. The triple threat of its harrowing disaster sequences, gruesome deaths, and one of the greatest rug pulls in horror history puts it above the rest. The...

A buried viral hit gives the ‘Final Destination’ franchise a musical makeover that riffs on a ‘90s sitcom classic and proves the slasher series’ versatility.

When iconic horror franchises are under discussion, it’s typically Friday the 13th, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Child’s Play, Saw, and The Conjuring Universe that come to mind. That being said, Final Destination has a wildly consistent track record and surprisingly continuity across its five films that gives the franchise far more depth than one would expect. Final Destination may be popcorn movie fun, but there’s no denying that it’s made an entire generation of horror fans scared to drive behind a log truck, walk under a fire escape, or get in a tanning bed. It’s created just as much terror and apprehension around these innocuous items as Psycho did for the shower. Final Destination doesn’t always get the respect...

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Jules is a sci-fi comedy-drama film directed by Marc Turtletaub from a screenplay by Gavin Steckler. The 2023 film follows Milton Robinson, an elderly man whose peaceful life is interrupted when a UFO crashes in his backyard. He soon befriends the alien, but things go awry when his neighbors and the government learn about the alien. Jules stars Ben Kingsley, Harriet Sansom Harris, Zoë Winters, Jade Quon, and Jane Curtin. So, if you loved the entertaining story and likable characters in Jules, here are some similar movies you should check out next.

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (Rent on Prime Video) Credit – Universal Pictures

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is a sci-fi adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg from a screenplay by Melissa Mathison. The 1982 film follows Elliott, a young boy who comes across an alien and names him E.T.

The ongoing drama involving “Coyote vs. Acme” is taking another turn.

The live-action animated film — which was initially shelved by Warner Bros. as a tax write-off in late 2023 — is now set to hit the Cannes market.

Ketchup Entertainment, which acquired the rights in March for a reported $50 million, has tapped Kinology to serve as the international sales agent, with Grégoire Melin’s Paris-based company introducing to the film to buyers.

Starring Will Forte, John Cena and Lana Condor, Coyote vs. Acme is directed by Dave Green and produced by Chris DeFaria (“The Lego Movie”) and James Gunn (“Guardians of the Galaxy”).

“We’re not just bringing a family film to Cannes — we’re bringing a global event,” commented Gareth West, CEO of Ketchup Entertainment. “Coyote vs. Acme is a true four-quadrant crowd pleaser. The performances are sublime, the world-building is extraordinary, and Dave Green has delivered something visually inventive and...

Exclusive: One of the year’s most intrigue-filled movies is heading to the Cannes market for sale: the former Warner Bros live-action/animation hybrid Coyote vs. Acme.

We can reveal that Grégoire Melin’s Paris-based Kinology will serve as international sales agent for Ketchup Entertainment, which bought worldwide rights to the film from Warner Bros in a big deal earlier this year and is releasing in North America at a date tbc.

We understand there will be footage for buyers to see and potentially a market screening but the latter isn’t set yet.

Will Forte, John Cena and Lana Condor star in the movie, which follows Wile E. Coyote, who, after Acme products fail him one too many times in his dogged pursuit of the Roadrunner, decides to hire a billboard lawyer to sue the Acme Corporation. The case pits Wile E. and his lawyer (Forte) against the latter...

A few weeks after Coyote vs. Acme was officially saved by Ketchup Entertainment and is headed to theaters, star Will Forte is still in shock.

The Looney Tunes film, featuring Forte and John Cena opposite an animated Wile E. Coyote, became the most talked about movie in Hollywood in late 2023 when The Hollywood Reporter broke the news that Warner Bros. intended to scrap the movie as part of a $115 million writedown. It appeared it would never be released, but a social media campaign to save the project helped lead to an acquisition deal between Ketchup and Warners for the worldwide rights.

At the Los Angeles premiere of his new show The Four Seasons on Thursday, Forte told THR that “words cannot describe” how he’s feeling about the movie’s changed fate.

“I never thought it would happen so it just came out of nowhere and I’m so thrilled,...

Ketchup Entertainment has acquired Coyote vs. Acme for $50 million, rescuing it from potential shelving by Warner Bros. Discovery for tax write-off purposes.

This follows their recent acquisition of The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie.

Following an extended period of intricate negotiations spanning several weeks, Ketchup Entertainment and Warner Bros. Discovery have reached a definitive agreement, ensuring that Coyote vs. Acme will see a theatrical release in 2026.

This resolution marks a significant turn in the film's trajectory, which had been clouded by uncertainty surrounding its release. The film, which reportedly carried a production budget of $70 million, became a subject of intense speculation after Warner Bros. Discovery considered shelving it for tax write-off purposes.

During the initial stages of discussions, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav reportedly aimed to recover the full $70 million production expenditure from potential acquiring studios.

However, the eventual deal, which saw Ketchup Entertainment secure the film for $50 million,...

Ketchup Entertainment has completed its acquisition of the $70m live-action Coyote Vs. Acme Looney Tunes featurethat Warner Bros shelved two years ago amid cost-cutting.

The studio allowed director Dave Green to shopCoyote Vs. Acme to buyers and Ketchup had been in negotiations for some time to pick it up.

Ketchup CEO Gareth West said the film featuring the notorious Wile E. Coyote cartoon character was “a perfect blend of nostalgia and modern storytelling” that would “resonate with both longtime fans and newcomers alike”. It is understood West will plan a 2026 theatrical release.

Green’s film features a cast led by Will Forte,...

Wile E. Coyote’s legal battle with the Acme Corp., accused of sabotaging his skirmishes with the Road Runner by way of faulty products, is heading to court as Coyote vs. Acme finally heads to movie theaters. Warner Bros. shelved the film in 2023, but widespread backlash led to it being acquired for global distribution by Ketchup Entertainment.

Ketchup Entertainment, which recently released The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie, landed the live-action/animated hybrid film for around $50 million, according to The Wrap. In 2023, it was reported that Warner Bros.

As it turns out, that's not all, folks! Like Wile E. Coyote defying death over and over again, the longstanding drama surrounding the once-shelved "Coyote vs. Acme" animated/live-action hybrid film has finally come to a close -- and it's pretty much the best possible outcome movie fans could've ever hoped to get. We previously reported that, against all odds, Warner Bros. was actually seeking new buyers to take the unwanted (yet fully completed) film off its hands, a stunning about-face from CEO David Zaslav opting to disappear the movie without a trace for nothing more than tax purposes. The early word was that the distributor behind the recent "The Day The Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie," Ketchup Entertainment, would swoop in as the most unexpected savior of all. Well, that dream has now become a reality.

Today brings the joyous news for animation fans all over the...

Previously threatened with deletion, Coyote Vs Acme will be getting a cinema release in 2026, it’s been confirmed.

Update: Coyote Vs Acme will be getting a release after all, it’s been confirmed. Ketchup Entertainment, the company that previously distributed The Day The Earth Blew Up, has made a deal with Warner Bros to release the previously shelved film in US cinemas. As previously reported, the deal is said to have been worth $50m.

“We’re thrilled to have made a deal with Warner Bros Pictures to bring this film to audiences worldwide,” Ketchup Entertainment boss Gareth West said in a statement published by TheWrap. “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.”

Previously scrapped as a tax write-off,...

Ketchup Entertainment has made it official by acquiring from Warner Bros. Pictures the worldwide rights to Coyote vs. Acme, which stars Will Forte and John Cena opposite an animated Wile E. Coyote.

The live-action/animated hybrid film that brings the iconic Looney Tunes character to the big screen ignited social media when the Hollywood studio canceled it after deciding against releasing that movie theatrically and included as part of a $115 million impairment charge.

But behind the scenes, Ketchup and Warners were hammering out an acquisition deal that would put the project in theaters.

Gareth West, CEO of Ketchup Entertainment, said in a statement on Monday: “We’re thrilled to have made a deal with Warner Bros. Pictures to bring this film to audiences worldwide. 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.

After being shamefully canceled by Warner Bros. Discovery back in November 2023, the comedy Coyote vs. Acme, which combines animation with live-action much like the 1988 classic Who Framed Roger Rabbit, has officially been saved. Ketchup Entertainment has today confirmed the purchase of the movie, giving them worldwide distribution rights, with the studio having even given the movie a release window.

As per a report by Deadline, who first revealed that Warner Bros. had changed their mind about indefinitely shelving the project and selling it to Ketchup Entertainment, Coyote vs. Acme has been picked up for distribution for the hefty sum of around $50 million and is “expected to get a theatrical release in 2026.”

Gareth West, CEO of Ketchup Entertainment, has since released a statement following the news, calling Coyote vs. Acme the “perfect blend of nostalgia and modern storytelling.”

“We’re thrilled to have made a deal with Warner Bros. Pictures to...

“Coyote vs. Acme” will see the light of day. Ketchup Entertainment has acquired worldwide rights to the live-action/CG hybrid film from Warner Bros., the company announced on Monday. Terms of the deal were not officially disclosed, but an insider pegged the deal at around $50 million.

Directed by Dave Green, the film centers on Wile E. Coyote as he takes legal action against the Acme Corporation for the countless faulty products that have hindered his relentless pursuit of the Road Runner. Will Forte, John Cena, Lana Condor and Tone Bell star.

The acquisition comes as a sigh of relief to Green and the filmmakers, but also the creative community at large who responded with shock and anger at Warner Bros.’ initial decision to shelve the movie.

TheWrap exclusively reported last February that after seeking $75 million to $80 million from buyers like Netflix, Amazon and Paramount to no takers, Warner Bros. was...

Ketchup Entertainment, distributors of Looney Tunes’ “The Day The Earth Blew Up”, are in talks to purchase “Coyote vs Acme”, the shelved animated feature, for theatrical distribution in 2026, as well as an opportunity to buy the entire Looney Tunes catalogue, in competition with Jeff Bezos, who owns MGM’s “Tom and Jerry”:

“…Netflix, Amazon and Paramount screened the movie, with Paramount proposing a theatrical release. But Warner Bros.was looking at a $40 million tax write-down and wanted $80 million from buyers, ‘take it or leave it’.

“Based on a 1990 article in the ‘New Yorker’ magazine, by Ian Frazier the movie would follow a new tax plan, previously used in the elimination of the ‘woke’ $90 million feature “Batgirl”.

“Despite the time, effort and dedication of hundreds of people involved in the making of a film, getting rid of a wholly finished movie had become an acceptable means of dealing with a problem…...

'Coyote vs. Acme' has reportedly found a new home.The shelved live action/animation hybrid 'Looney Tunes' movie - which follows Wile E. Coyote suing the Acme corporation for their unreliable products that thwarted his efforts to catch the Road Runner - was scrapped by Warner Bros. for tax purposes despite being completed.Now, Deadline report that Ketchup Entertainment is set to land distribution rights for the movie.While the sale is yet to close, it's believed the price tag will be around $50 million.The independent distributor recently led the cinema release of 'The Day The Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie' after acquiring the rights from Warner Bros. Discovery.Actor Will Forte recently admitted he and his fellow cast members - including Lana Condor and John Cena - recently came together to lay ‘Coyote v. Acme’ to rest, though still hopes the film will...

Coyote Vs. Acme has been in the works for nearly a year, working towards its big-screen debut. The film has navigated various challenges, from being a tax write-off at Warner Bros. to finally receiving the green light from the independent distribution company Ketchup Entertainment. Exciting news for movie enthusiasts and wrestling fans arises as the legendary John Cena returns to the WWE ring this year and to the big screen in Coyote Vs. Acme.

A still from Coyote vs. Acme | Credits: Warner Bros

John Cena and Lana Condor were cast in this live-action animated film directed by Dave Green. The movie was completed in 2022, and Warner Bros. was set to release it in 2023. However, in November 2023, Warner Bros. shelved the film to cover a $30 million tax write-off, leaving many disappointed. After screening, the movie was considered by many Ott giants like Netflix and Amazon, but nothing materialized.

A rollercoaster ride...

It's been a dark time for fans of Warner Bros. and their expansive ownership of various IPs and characters. While there has been a clear investment in things like James Gunn and Peter Safran's DC Universe, there has also been what could be considered a purging of content in the name of tax write-offs and profitability. Among such write-offs was the live-action-animated hybrid film Coyote vs. Acme, which had tried to find a new distributor early last year before ultimately being shelved. However, a new report has provided a big update on the film's future, as a potential new buyer has entered the fray.

A new report from Deadline has revealed that Ketchup Entertainment, the distributor and financier that also bought The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie, is in "deep-sale negotiations" for the movie centered around Wile E. Coyote and his legal battle against Acme.

Could “Coyote vs. Acme” live to see another day?

The live-action/hybrid is in the process of being sold to Ketchup Entertainment, the company that just put out another abandoned Warner Bros./”Looney Tunes” project “The Day the Earth Blew Up,” for around $50 million. The deal has yet to be finalized but should it go through, “Coyote vs. Acme” would likely be released in 2026.

Based on a 1990 New Yorker piece by Ian Frazier and directed by Dave Green, “Coyote vs. Acme” was originally slated to be released on July 21, 2023, before being pulled from the schedule. “Barbie” took its place on the calendar and became a phenomenon. By the end of the year, it had been shopped around to various studios, some of whom had shown decided interest (Paramount even floated a hybrid theatrical/streaming release), but Warner Bros. had wanted a much higher number than most were comfortable with. A source close to Warner Bros.

More than a year after Warner Bros. shelved “Coyote vs. Acme” for tax incentives, the Looney Tunes-inspired film is close to finding a new home.

Ketchup Entertainment is expected to land distribution rights for “Coyote vs. Acme.” Thought the sale has not closed, the price tag is reportedly in the $50 million range, according to Deadline, which broke the news.

Ketchup Entertainment, an independent distributor, recently spearheaded the theatrical release of “The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie” after Warner Bros. Discovery decided to shop that film as well. “The Day the Earth Blew Up” opened in theaters on March 14 and has grossed $3.9 million at the domestic box office to date.

“Coyote vs. Acme,” a live action-animation hybrid starring John Cena and Lana Condor, was directed by Dave Green and produced by DC Studios co-chief James Gunn. Warner Bros. shelved the completed film in November 2023 as a $30 million tax write-off,...

Coyote vs. Acme, the film that ignited social media when Warner Bros. canceled it for a tax write-off, may see the light of day after all. Indie outfit Ketchup Entertainment is eyeing the rights to the film, which stars Will Forte and John Cena opposite an animated Wile E. Coyote.

Ketchup and Warners have been discussing a roughly $50 million deal for some time that would put the project in theaters in 2026, though it’s still unclear if it will close. Warner Bros. declined to comment.

Ketchup has a history putting Looney Tunes movies in theaters. It distributed The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie after Warner Bros. Discovery opted to shop the film rather than release it itself. Released wide last weekend, it has earned $5.5 million globally.

Ketchup has also backed projects such as Hellboy: The Crooked Man, Ben Affleck starrer Hypnotic and Michael Mann’s Ferrari.

Directed by Dave Green, and starring John Cena, Coyote vs. Acme was filmed in February 2022 and was scheduled to be released theatrically on July 21, 2023. However, Warner Bros. Discovery shockingly removed the film’s release date in April 2022. And then, although fans had hoped to see the movie in theaters, the studio announced shelving it.

Coyote vs. Acme movie | image: Warner Bros.

Thereafter, John Cena openly addressed the cancellation of the film during his interview with The Wrap. However, his response seemed pretty condescending. Meanwhile, Will Forte appeared to blast Warner Bros. for their decision to shelve the movie for a $30M tax write-down. While Cena went silent, Forte appears to be continuing his rally against the studio.

Will Forte got candid with his frustrations over the canceled Coyote vs. Acme movie Will Forte and Amy Schumer in Kinda Pregnant (2025) | Image: Netflix

Since Warner Bros. announced its decision to shelve the...

One of the stars of “Coyote vs. Acme,” director Dave Green’s live-action/animation hybrid that starred Looney Tunes characters and was unceremoniously shelved by Warner Bros. brass, is speaking out.

Will Forte, in a discussion with MovieWeb, was asked about his thoughts on the situation. “My thoughts were that it’s f–king bulls–t. It is such a delightful movie. It deserves so much better than it got,” he told the outlet. “I can’t tell you possibly why the decision was made to not release it. But it makes my blood boil.”

Forte continued: “Thank you for asking me about it because I like talking about the movie because I don’t want people to forget what [Warner Bros. Discovery] did to this. I appreciate them letting us make it, but don’t let us make this thing that we fall in love with and then not show it.

It is looking very unlikely that the shelved Looney Tunes movie Coyote vs. Acme will ever see the light of day. The film getting shelved by Warner Bros. Discovery, reportedly for a $30M tax write-off, left at least one of the movie's stars feeling completely devastated.

Lana Condor was among the stars of Coyote vs. Acme alongside Will Forte and John Cena. In a new interview with Screen Rant, Condor confirmed that she has "zero update" on the potential of Coyote vs. Acme getting saved, admitting that she feels "heartbroken" that it's looking like filmgoers won't get the chance to see it. She also detailed the "funeral screening" that was held for the cast and crew, sharing how watching the finished film only made its cancelation that much worse, as she put in the "best work" of her career.

Related New Looney Tunes Movie (That Was Almost Shelved by Warner Bros....

The saga of Coyote Vs. Acme is one that could almost make a movie in itself, and the fallout is still being felt by those who worked on the currently unreleased film. While attending the Sundance Film Festival, Lana Condor, who was set to star in the Warner Bros. Discovery release alongside John Cena and Will Forte, was asked by ScreenRant whether she believed the film would ever be released or if it has been scrapped for good.

From the response given by Condor, it is easy to see why everyone is still talking about Coyote vs. Acme, as the cancelation is something that is staying with those who made the movie, and the more it is discussed, the more fans really want to see it get some kind of release. Cordor said:

“I have zero update. That's probably definitely the most devastating thing in my career thus far. Yeah,...

At first, Warner Bros reversed course on a tax write-off, allowing producers to shop the previously ‘shelved’ animated feature “Coyote vs Acme” to alternate distributors, at a reported price tag of $80 million:

“…Netflix, Amazon and Paramount screened the movie, with Paramount proposing a theatrical release. But Warner Bros.was looking at a $40 million tax write-down and wanted $80 million from buyers, ‘take it or leave it’.

“Based on a 1990 article in the ‘New Yorker’ magazine, by Ian Frazier the movie would follow a new tax plan, previously used in the elimination of the ‘woke’ $90 million feature “Batgirl”.

“Despite the time, effort and dedication of hundreds of people involved in the making of a film, getting rid of a wholly finished movie had become an acceptable means of dealing with a problem…

“…with the studio insisting on a price tag that would cover ‘negative cost plus’, or what the movie cost the studio and ‘additional fees’ incurred.

Feature films have not been kind to the Looney Tunes. There was a time when the wacky adventures of Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Bugs Bunny and their animated pals were the best and funniest shorts on the silver screen, an era that lasted decades. But most of their longer movies were repackaged classic skits, thinly strung together by new bookend material based on whatever movie or TV show was hot at the time, like “Fantasy Island” or “Ghostbusters.” Then of course there were the “Space Jam” films, two of the most creatively bankrupt and shamelessly tacky brand exploitations in the history of [checks notes] everything.

Until now the only great “Looney Tunes” feature was the one that completely flopped, Joe Dante’s inspired and hilarious “Back in Action,” which smartly skewered the callow capitalism that made the “Space Jam” movies a cinematic crime. The new film, “The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie,...

The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie has recently released a new trailer that serves as both a reminder that Looney Tunes still have the potential to dominate the big screen and the lost potential that was Coyote vs Acme. The Looney Tunes have recently re-entered the public mind with the intense discourse surrounding Coyote vs. Acme; Warner Bros. Discovery shelved the film directed by Dave Green as part of a tax write-off. The aforementioned process ended with the film no longer being able to be released despite being completely finished.

Thankfully, The Day the Earth Blew Up was acquired by Ketchup Entertainment, allowing the Warner Bros. animation-produced film to see the light of day. The film premiered at the Annecy Animation Film Festival to rave reviews and reactions, further justifying the purchase of the movie. Moreover, the animated feature is set to go on an Oscar-qualifying...

Under Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav’s continued campaign of content erasure, animation fans mourn the destruction of Planet Nielsen.

In case Zaslav’s reputation among the cartoon community wasn’t low enough already, the controversial executive’s regime made a surprising and surreptitious move this week that sparked outrage across numerous online fandoms. Following the latest updates to the Max streaming library, seven Cartoon Network shows have disappeared from the premium streaming service, with Ben 10, Steven Universe, the 2016 Powerpuff Girls revival, Amazing World of Gumball, We Bare Bears, Chowder and Regular Show all pulled from service without so much as a “leaving soon” notice.

Now that the entire entertainment industry is firmly sliding on a downward slope following the peak of streaming, it seems that no TV series — no matter how beloved or endlessly quoted — is safe from the content cuts that have become company-wide policy under Zaslav’s leadership.

At first, Warner Bros reversed course on a tax write-off, allowing producers to shop the previously ‘shelved’ animated feature “Coyote vs Acme” to alternate distributors, at a reported price tag of $80 million:

“…Netflix, Amazon and Paramount screened the movie, with Paramount proposing a theatrical release. But Warner Bros.was looking at a $40 million tax write-down and wanted $80 million from buyers, ‘take it or leave it’.

“Based on a 1990 article in the ‘New Yorker’ magazine, by Ian Frazier the movie would follow a new tax plan, previously used in the elimination of the ‘woke’ $90 million feature “Batgirl”.

“Despite the time, effort and dedication of hundreds of people involved in the making of a film, getting rid of a wholly finished movie had become an acceptable means of dealing with a problem…

“…with the studio insisting on a price tag that would cover ‘negative cost plus’, or what the movie cost the studio and ‘additional fees’ incurred.

John Cena says he understands why David Zaslav decided to cancel the release of Coyote vs. Acme after its completion, a corporate line-toeing that aligns with his personal philosophy of, “You can’t see me.”

In late 2023, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO Zaslav shelved the half-animated, half-live-action Looney Tunes movie about a hapless antagonist’s quest for justice after suffering decades of misfortune thanks to ineffective products purchased from the Acme corporation. Coyote vs. Acme, which began development long before Zaslav’s Discovery merged with WarnerMedia in 2022, was a labor of love that brought together such comedic talents as Adam McKay, James Gunn, Will Forte and Cena in an homage to the characters and cartoons that have enriched so many childhoods for the better part of the last century.

While those lucky industry insiders who got to see a test screening of Coyote vs. Acme have expressed outrage over Zaslav’s...

John Cena wishes ‘Coyote vs. Acme’ was “given a chance” before Warner Bros. shelved it.The 47-year-old actor starred in the live-action/ animated movie which would have seen the unlucky ‘Looney Tunes’ character sue the corporation for their unreliable products that hindered his chances of catching the Road Runner, but the studio chose to scrap the film in February for tax purposes.Now, Cena has admitted he wished the flick got to see the light of day because he and director Dave Green believed they had made a very entertaining flick.He told The Wrap: “There’s a lot there. And everyone’s perspective is different. We don’t own the film. That’s the tough part about this business, you do have a sense of ownership because you invest heart and soul.“And Dave Green and everybody involved, we made what we thought was a good movie.”The...

Following in the footsteps of co-star Will Forte, John Cena offers his take on Warner Bros’ decision to delete Coyote Vs Acme as a tax write-off.

It’s been a few months since Will Forte penned an open letter, praising the work everybody put into Coyote Vs Acme, the latest (completed) film to be deleted at the behest of Warner Bros boss, David Zaslav. At this point, Zaslav is ‘disappearing’ films with the alarming regularity that an average crime boss makes witnesses and informants vanish, while those whose careers never benefit from their work actually being seen by the public are left to deal with the fallout of what could have been.

Now John Cena, the film’s other lead star has publicly offered his take. Given that months have passed and the disappointment has hopefully lessened somewhat, the actor’s take is fairly diplomatic. As he does the press...

Peacemaker star John Cena is one of the main stars of Coyote vs. Acme, the Looney Tunes franchise film that was shelved ahead of its release --- even though it was already completed. While Cena would have loved for audiences to see the movie, he said how he has to keep telling himself that the decision was best for business, as that's the only way he can understand.

Cena opened up on the Coyote vs. Acme situation in a new interview with TheWrap. He pointed out how it can sometimes be hard to separate from film and TV projects after personally investing so much in them, but at the same time, he's not the one who owns the rights. It all comes down to making the best business decision for the project, so while Cena and others believe Coyote vs. Acme is a great film, he's not discounting that shelving...

John Cena has finally spoken about Warner Bros. Discovery's decision to scrap Coyote vs. Acme. Coyote vs. Acme was set to be directed by Dave Green (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows) and centered on the Looney Tunes character Wile E. Coyote suing the Acme Corporation after every one of the products he purchased from them backfired on him. The cast included Will Forte as Wile E. Coyote's lawyer, and John Cena playing Acme's lawyer. In November 2023, Warner Bros. seemingly scrapped the plans for the film's release to take a tax write-off, and several fan campaigns for its release aside, this seems to be the fate of the movie.

While promoting his latest film Jackpot, John Cena was asked by The Wrap his thoughts on the cancelation. Cena himself is proud of the movie and thinks it should have had a chance in cinemas, but he...

John Cena has shared his thoughts on Coyote vs. Acme being shelved as a tax write-down. Cena said that he chooses to believe it was shelved for the right reasons, because otherwise he would have "tremendous regret and shame." Cena's diplomatic answer may be the result of the star's continued work with Warner Bros. Discovery on Peacemaker season 2.

John Cena has shared his thoughts on the fate of Coyote vs. Acme. The movie, which blends live-action and animated elements, is a courtroom comedy starring Cena, Will Forte, Lana Condor, who play characters opposite iconic Looney Tunes character Wile E. Coyote, who has filed a lawsuit against the Acme corporation for the consistent failure of their products in helping him capture the Roadrunner. In late 2023, the Coyote vs. Acme movie was controversially shelved by Warner Bros. Discovery as a tax write-down along with Batgirl and Scoob! Holiday Haunt.

John Cena recently...

John Cena was one of the many actors involved in Warner Bros.’ now-shelved “Coyote vs. Acme,” and he remains sad about its fate. That said, he is keeping his faith in the process that led to said fate.

The film was officially scrapped back in November, despite being fully finished and screened for some audiences. The decision sparked heavy criticism, both from fans and those involved with the film. In response, the studio walked back the decision in part, allowing the film to be shopped around. In the end, though, as TheWrap exclusively reported in February, Warner Bros. turned down several offers, and “Coyote vs. Acme” remains unreleased.

Speaking to TheWrap ahead of his new film “Jackpot!” — now streaming on Prime Video — Cena opened up about the Hollywood process and how he’s feeling about the decision all these months later.

“There’s a lot there. And everyone’s perspective is different.

Of the many crimes the Animaniacs' notorious nemesis, David Zaslav, has perpetrated during his reign of terror as CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, his blatant disrespect for the Looney Tunes ranks high on the list. As if doing little to promote the terrific modern "Looney Tunes Cartoons" series that are available exclusively on Max wasn't bad enough, Zaslav's regime has also yanked a whole lot of golden age "Looney Tunes" shorts from its streaming service and killed the live-action/animated hybrid feature "Coyote vs. Acme" solely for the sake of a tax write-off. Sadly, it seems we'll never know if Dave Green's New Yorker-inspired legal satire was an entertaining as the early buzz suggested. Nevertheless, 2024 is shaping up to be a major year for Bugs, Daffy, Porky, and the rest of the Looney gang.

As of today, Ketchup Entertainment has officially acquired the North American rights to "The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie...

Thanks to fan support, Warner Bros. reversed course on the live-action/animated feature “Coyote vs. Acme” allowing producers to "shop the movie around" to alternate distributors, at a reported price of $70 million, with Netflix and Paramount both making bids to acquire the feature for a 2024 streaming release:

Principal photography was already shot for the live-action/animated hybrid feature, “Coyote vs Acme”, directed by Dave Green.

Cast includes John Cena, Will Forte and Lana Condor...

...based on the 'Wile E. Coyote' character from Warner Bros. "Roadrunner" cartoons.

"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," said the film's director Dave Green.

"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.

When Warner Bros. Discovery dropped an anvil on Coyote vs. Acme, it was like Batgirl all over again — except it might have been an even bigger blow. While it’s up for serious questioning as to whether or not Batgirl was truly “unreleasable”, Coyote vs. Acme was by most accounts looking to be a pretty darn good movie. Now, the directors of Batgirl are showing their support for a fellow Wbd movie that was left hovering over a cliff’s edge.

Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, the directors behind Batgirl, showed their concern over how studios are willing to openly discard films, particularly name-checking the director of Coyote vs. Acme. “It’s an extra thing to worry about in Hollywood, and that’s sad. I think that we all are artists. We are friends with director Dave Green; he’s our boy. We hope that he will be able...

Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah know what the makers of the shelved Coyote vs. Acme are going through having seen their Batgirl film go through a similar fate at Warner Bros. According to the longtime collaborators, Coyote vs. Acme "must be seen" and its cancelation highlights a concerning Hollywood trend.

Speaking with Screen Rant to promote Bad Boys: Ride or Die, El Arbi and Fallah shared their feelings about the unreleased Coyote vs. Acme film, which features Will Forte and John Cena. El Arbi called the situation "sad," believing the live-action/animated legal comedy should have been shown to the public and judged accordingly by audiences rather than being axed. "Well, yeah, it's an extra thing to worry about in Hollywood, and that's sad. I think that we all are artists. We are friends with Dave Green; he's our boy. We hope that he will be able to do a movie in the future.

Warner Bros. Discovery's tax write off controversies continue, as the directors of the canceled yet completed Batgirl have further criticized Wbd's decision to shelve another completed project, Coyote vs. Acme. Filmmaking duo Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah showed their support for director Dave Green's unique Looney Tunes film during an exclusive interview with Screen Rant. The below statement from El Arbi and Fallah criticizes Wbd's verdict on Coyote vs. Acme, saying decisions like these are now "an extra thing to worry about in Hollywood":...

Batgirl directors share their take on Coyote vs. Acme being the latest movie to be shelved, expressing their concern about this recent trend in Hollywood. Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah give their support to Coyote vs. Acme director Dave Green. It remains uncertain what will eventually happen to Coyote vs. Acme despite being screened and opening up bids for potential buyers.

Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, directors of the cancelled Batgirl movie, have weighed in on Warner Bros. shelving Coyote Vs. Acme. Originally planned to be released on Max in 2022, Warner Bros. caused shock waves throughout the industry when they decided to shelve the nearly completed Dceu movie along with the animated feature Scoob! Holiday Haunt. In November 2023, the studio followed suit by shelving the live-action/animated hybrid movie Coyote Vs. Acme, though, since then, Warner Bros. has seemingly reversed course multiple times and is reportedly still looking...

Exclusive: Academy Award nominated writer Samy Burch has signed with WME. Burch is the writer behind May December, which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, in addition to WGA and Critics Choice Awards nominations. Burch won the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Screenplay and the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Screenplay.

Most recently, Burch wrote script for Cannes package Late Fame, starring Sandra Hüller and Willem Dafoe from director Kent Jones for producer Killer Films. Burch also wrote the screenplay for Coyote vs. Acme for director Dave Green at Warner Bros.

Burch continues to be repped by Grandview, and Andrew Howard at Jackoway Austen Tyerman Wertheimer Mandelbaum Morris Bernstein Trattner & Klein.