Entertainment
Coyote vs. Acme debuts in theaters after Warner Bros. previously shelved the film
The Looney Tunes hybrid movie was rescued from a planned tax write-down following fan and community advocacy.
The short version
- Coyote vs. Acme has officially been released in theaters following a long struggle to save the film.
- Warner Bros. had completed the $70 million project but shelved it in late 2023 for a planned tax write-down, sparking severe public backlash.
- Ketchup Entertainment acquired the worldwide distribution rights in March 2025 for about $50 million, paving the way for its release.
Key facts
- Coyote vs. Acme is a hybrid live-action and animated Looney Tunes movie starring Will Forte, John Cena, Lana Condor, Eric Bauza, and Martha Kelly, directed by Dave Green.[The Hollywood Reporter]
- Warner Bros. shelved the finished $70 million movie in November 2023, intending to claim an estimated $30 million tax write-down.[The Hollywood Reporter]
- The studio initially attributed the shelving to a global strategy shift prioritizing theatrical releases after restructuring its animation division.[The Hollywood Reporter]
- In March 2025, Ketchup Entertainment bought the worldwide distribution rights from Warner Bros. in a deal valued at approximately $50 million.[The Hollywood Reporter]
- Director Dave Green and star Will Forte publicly celebrated the theatrical release and expressed gratitude to the filmmaking community and fans who campaigned to save the film.[The Hollywood Reporter]