Latest news with #CoyotevsAcme
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Looney Tunes fans rejoice after Coyote vs Acme film is saved from Warner Bros vault in ‘$50m' deal
Looney Tunes fans are rejoicing after it was confirmed that the previously shelved Coyote vs Acme has been saved. The film, which stars John Cena, Will Forte, and Stephanie Hsu, acting alongside cartoon characters, will finally be released after an agonising two-year wait. Coyote vs Acme had been shelved by Warner Bros as part of a tax write-off, before Ketchup Entertainment swooped in to save it from gathering dust forever. The production company announced on Monday (31 March) that it had acquired worldwide distribution rights to the live-action animated film for an undisclosed sum. According to Deadline, the deal was 'pegged in the $50m range'. The publication also states that the film is expected to get a theatrical release in 2026. The film is estimated to have cost $72m to produce. Axing its release, however, allowed Warner Bros to take an estimated $30m tax write-down. At the time, Warner Bros called the decision 'difficult' and thanked the cast and crew for their work on the film. Fans were unhappy with the strategy taken by the studio, which also resulted in an almost completed $90m Batgirl film and an animated Scooby Doo film also being shelved. Those fans are now understandably overjoyed at this news from Ketchup Entertainment. CEO of DC Studios James Gunn was among those to celebrate the news on X/Twitter, resharing the announcement with a love heart emoji. 'Repeat after me… TOONS NEVER DIE!' wrote another person in a post that has received over 26,000 likes. Someone else wrote: 'That Coyote vs Acme news made my entire year. Ketchup Entertainment is doing more to save cinema than any major studio. Can't wait to get Looney again!!!' In addition to Coyote vs Acme, Ketchup also recently released another Looney Tunes film jettisoned by Warner Bros – The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie. 'We did it! We got Coyote vs Acme out of the Warner vault,' said one person, with another adding: 'That's great news. Thanks Ketchup Entertainment for saving the film from limbo.' Directed by Dave Green, Coyote vs Acme is based on a 1990 article in The New Yorker by Ian Frazier. The film follows Wile E Coyote as he files a lawsuit against Acme Corporation for the many faulty products that failed to catch him the Road Runner. Forte plays Wile E Coyote's lawyer Kevin Avery, who must face off in court against Acme's intimidating lawyer, played by Cena, who happens to be his former boss. The announcement that the film had been axed back in November 2023 was met with outrage from the cast and creatives. At the time, Forte, called the decision 'f***ing bulls***'. 'It is such a delightful movie. It deserves so much better … it makes my blood boil and thank you for asking me about it because I like talking about the movie,' he said in an interview. People were further disheartened by its axing after learning that the film was supposed to be great, with Oscar-winning filmmakers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller describing it as 'funny, charming, good physical comedy timing, with a surprising amount of heart'. Writer-director Brian Duffield also tweeted: 'I have seen this movie and it is excellent. It also tested in the high 90s repeatedly. It also had interested buyers. The people working at Warner Bros are anti-art and I hope multiple anvils drop on their heads.'
The Independent
01-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Looney Tunes fans rejoice after Coyote vs Acme film is saved from Warner Bros vault in ‘$50m' deal
Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Looney Tunes fans are rejoicing after it was confirmed that the previously shelved Coyote vs Acme has been saved. The film, which stars John Cena, Will Forte, and Stephanie Hsu, acting alongside cartoon characters, will finally be released after an agonising two-year wait. Coyote vs Acme had been shelved by Warner Bros as part of a tax write-off, before Ketchup Entertainment swooped in to save it from gathering dust forever. The production company announced on Monday (31 March) that it had acquired worldwide distribution rights to the live-action animated film for an undisclosed sum. According to Deadline, the deal was 'pegged in the $50m range'. The publication also states that the film is expected to get a theatrical release in 2026. The film is estimated to have cost $72m to produce. Axing its release, however, allowed Warner Bros to take an estimated $30m tax write-down. At the time, Warner Bros called the decision 'difficult' and thanked the cast and crew for their work on the film. Fans were unhappy with the strategy taken by the studio, which also resulted in an almost completed $90m Batgirl film and an animated Scooby Doo film also being shelved. Those fans are now understandably overjoyed at this news from Ketchup Entertainment. BRING OUR SOLDIER HOME. THE JOB IS DONE. — Andrew J. Salazar (@AndrewJ626) March 31, 2025 CEO of DC Studios James Gunn was among those to celebrate the news on X/Twitter, resharing the announcement with a love heart emoji. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free 'Repeat after me… TOONS NEVER DIE!' wrote another person in a post that has received over 26,000 likes. Someone else wrote: 'That Coyote vs Acme news made my entire year. Ketchup Entertainment is doing more to save cinema than any major studio. Can't wait to get Looney again!!!' In addition to Coyote vs Acme, Ketchup also recently released another Looney Tunes film jettisoned by Warner Bros – The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie. 'We did it! We got Coyote vs Acme out of the Warner vault,' said one person, with another adding: 'That's great news. Thanks Ketchup Entertainment for saving the film from limbo.' Directed by Dave Green, Coyote vs Acme is based on a 1990 article in The New Yorker by Ian Frazier. The film follows Wile E Coyote as he files a lawsuit against Acme Corporation for the many faulty products that failed to catch him the Road Runner. Film-Coyote vs Acme ( AP ) Forte plays Wile E Coyote's lawyer Kevin Avery, who must face off in court against Acme's intimidating lawyer, played by Cena, who happens to be his former boss. The announcement that the film had been axed back in November 2023 was met with outrage from the cast and creatives. At the time, Forte, called the decision 'f***ing bulls***'. 'It is such a delightful movie. It deserves so much better … it makes my blood boil and thank you for asking me about it because I like talking about the movie,' he said in an interview. People were further disheartened by its axing after learning that the film was supposed to be great, with Oscar-winning filmmakers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller describing it as 'funny, charming, good physical comedy timing, with a surprising amount of heart'. Writer-director Brian Duffield also tweeted: 'I have seen this movie and it is excellent. It also tested in the high 90s repeatedly. It also had interested buyers. The people working at Warner Bros are anti-art and I hope multiple anvils drop on their heads.'
The Guardian
01-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Coyote vs Acme: $70m Looney Tunes film to be released after being canned by Warner Bros
For once, things are working out for Wile E Coyote. The film Coyote vs Acme, which stars John Cena and Will Forte acting alongside beloved Looney Tunes cartoon characters, will finally be released to the public, almost two years after the completed film was shelved by Warner Bros as part of a tax write-off. Ketchup Entertainment announced on Monday that it acquired worldwide distribution rights to the live-action animated film for an undisclosed sum. Deadline reported the deal was 'pegged in the $50m range and the film is expected to get a theatrical release in 2026'. The deal gives new life to one of the three fully completed films that Warner Bros elected to take a tax write-off on, rather than release. The film is estimated to have cost $72m to produce, but shelving it allowed Warner Bros to take an estimated $30m tax write-down. At the time, Warner Bros called the decision 'difficult' and thanked the cast and crew for their work. But the tactic, which followed a change in leadership at Warner Bros after the outbreak of Covid-19, also resulted in an almost completed $90m Batgirl film and an animated Scooby Doo film being shelved, decisions that were widely disparaged by creatives and fans alike. The film's star, Forte, called the decision 'fucking bullshit', saying in an interview in February: 'It is such a delightful movie. It deserves so much better … it makes my blood boil and thank you for asking me about it because I like talking about the movie.' Oscar-winning film-makers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller saw a screening and described the film as 'funny, charming, good physical comedy timing, with a surprising amount of heart'. 'I hope several studios go after it so the world can see all the good work people did,' Miller tweeted. Writer-director Brian Duffield also tweeted at the time: 'I have seen this movie and it is excellent. It also tested in the high 90s repeatedly. It also had interested buyers. The people working at Warner Bros are anti-art and I hope multiple anvils drop on their heads.' Directed by Dave Green and based on a 1990 New Yorker article by Ian Frazier, Coyote vs Acme follows Wile E Coyote in a lawsuit against Acme Corporation for the many faulty products that failed to catch him the Road Runner. Forte plays Wile E Coyote's 'billboard lawyer' Kevin Avery, who must face off in court against Acme's intimidating lawyer, played by Cena, who also happens to be his former boss. The film was reportedly test-screened to positive responses before Warner Bros shelved it, with Deadline reporting at the time that it had scored 14 points above the norm for a family movie. Gareth West, chief executive of Ketchup Entertainment, said the company was 'thrilled' by the new deal, calling Coyote vs Acme 'a perfect blend of nostalgia and modern storytelling, capturing the essence of the beloved Looney Tunes characters while introducing them to a new generation'. Ketchup, a distribution company launched in 2012, also recently released another Looney Tunes film jettisoned by Warner Bros – The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie. In three weeks of release, it has grossed US$8.2m in domestic ticket sales.
The Hill
31-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hill
‘Coyote vs. Acme' finds a new home after being shelved by Warner Bros.
NEW YORK (AP) — For once, things are working out for Wile E. Coyote. After being shelved by Warner Bros. in 2023, the Looney Tunes film 'Coyote vs. Acme' has found a new home. Ketchup Entertainment announced Monday that it acquired worldwide distribution rights to the film for an undisclosed sum. The deal gives new life to one of the three fully completed films that Warner Bros. elected to take a tax write-off on rather than release. The tactic, which followed a change in leadership at Warner Bros. coming out of the pandemic, was widely disparaged by creatives and fans, alike. The other two shelved movies — the $90 million DC Studios production 'Batgirl' and the animated 'Scoob! Holiday Haunt' — remain unreleased. But 'Coyote vs. Acme' will be salvaged from the dustbin. Ketchup Entertainment plans a theatrical release at an unspecified future date. 'We're thrilled to have made a deal with Warner Bros. Pictures to bring this film to audiences worldwide,' Gareth West, chief executive of Ketchup Entertainment, said in a statement. ''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.' Directed by Dave Green and based on a New Yorker article by Ian Frazier, 'Coyote vs. Acme' follows Wile E. Coyote in a lawsuit against Acme Corporation for the many faulty products that failed to catch him the Road Runner. The live-action animated hybrid stars John Cena and Will Forte. Deadline earlier reported that Ketchup paid about $50 million for the film, which cost $70 million to produce. Ketchup, a distribution company launched in 2012, also recently released another Looney Tunes film jettisoned by Warner Bros.: 'The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie.' In three weeks of release, it's grossed $8.2 million in domestic ticket sales.
The Independent
31-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
'Coyote vs. Acme' finds a new home after being shelved by Warner Bros.
For once, things are working out for Wile E. Coyote. After being shelved by Warner Bros. in 2023, the Looney Tunes film 'Coyote vs. Acme' has found a new home. Ketchup Entertainment announced Monday that it acquired worldwide distribution rights to the film for an undisclosed sum. The deal gives new life to one of the three fully completed films that Warner Bros. elected to take a tax write-off on rather than release. The tactic, which followed a change in leadership at Warner Bros. coming out of the pandemic, was widely disparaged by creatives and fans, alike. The other two shelved movies — the $90 million DC Studios production 'Batgirl' and the animated 'Scoob! Holiday Haunt' — remain unreleased. But 'Coyote vs. Acme' will be salvaged from the dustbin. Ketchup Entertainment plans a theatrical release at an unspecified future date. 'We're thrilled to have made a deal with Warner Bros. Pictures to bring this film to audiences worldwide,' Gareth West, chief executive of Ketchup Entertainment, said in a statement. ''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.' Directed by Dave Green and based on a New Yorker article by Ian Frazier, 'Coyote vs. Acme' follows Wile E. Coyote in a lawsuit against Acme Corporation for the many faulty products that failed to catch him the Road Runner. The live-action animated hybrid stars John Cena and Will Forte. Deadline earlier reported that Ketchup paid about $50 million for the film, which cost $70 million to produce. Ketchup, a distribution company launched in 2012, also recently released another Looney Tunes film jettisoned by Warner Bros.: 'The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie.' In three weeks of release, it's grossed $8.2 million in domestic ticket sales.
