Warner Bros.' previously shelved film, Coyote vs. Acme, may soon make its way to audiences after all, 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 this completed movie, which was initially thought to be entirely scrapped.
While the deal is not yet finalized, Deadline suggests that if negotiations are successful, Coyote vs. Acme could see a theatrical release in 2026.
Coyote vs. Acme was first announced in 2022 and is based on a 1990 New Yorker article by Ian Frazier. The film, co-written by James Gunn and starring Will Forte and John Cena, was originally slated for a mid-2023 release on Max. However, despite having completed filming, it was unexpectedly shelved, sparking a dedicated campaign to save it.
Ketchup Entertainment, known for rescuing Warner Bros.' The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie from a similar fate, has a history of bringing films to the big screen. They secured a theatrical release for The Day the Earth Blew Up, marking it as the first fully animated Looney Tunes movie to hit cinemas in the US. IGN praised the film as a "laugh-out-loud riot."
Ketchup Entertainment's previous projects include Hellboy: The Crooked Man and the Robert Rodriguez thriller Hypnotic, featuring Ben Affleck. The company also co-produced Michael Mann's 2023 Ferrari biopic, showcasing their commitment to diverse and engaging cinema.
