Coyote vs. Acme Film May Hit Theaters Despite Cancellation

According to Deadline, Warner Bros.' previously shelved film Coyote vs. Acme might finally make it to the big screen. 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. Although the deal is not finalized yet, a theatrical release could be on the horizon for 2026 if everything goes through.

Coyote vs. Acme, announced in 2022, draws its inspiration from a 1990 Ian Frazier article in The New Yorker. Co-written by James Gunn and featuring stars Will Forte and John Cena, the film was initially slated for a mid-2023 release on Max. However, despite having completed filming, it was unfortunately shelved. Since then, a dedicated campaign to save the movie has been actively pursued.

Ketchup Entertainment has a track record of rescuing films from oblivion, as evidenced by their recent acquisition of Warner Bros.' The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie. This film was similarly at risk but was saved by Ketchup Entertainment, securing it a theatrical release in the US. It marks the first fully animated Looney Tunes movie to hit theaters, and IGN's review praised it as a "laugh-out-loud riot."

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