Ketchup Entertainment Has Completed Its Acquisition Of ‘Coyote Vs. Acme’
Do you believe in miracles?
Ketchup Entertainment has acquired worldwide rights to Coyote vs. Acme from Warner Bros. The deal, which was first reported a couple weeks ago, is reportedly in the range of $50 million, which is the most expensive deal to date for the burgeoning distribution company.
Ketchup is planning a worldwide theatrical release in 2026. Gareth West, CEO of Ketchup Entertainment, said in a statement:
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. We believe it will resonate with both longtime fans and newcomers alike.
The distributor also rescued WB’s The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie, which is currently in theaters and has grossed over $8 million to date. Ketchup only acquired North American rights to The Day the Earth Blew Up, so this worldwide rights deal for Coyote vs. Acme deal is significantly more ambitious for the distributor.
Directed by Dave Green from a script by Samy Burch (writer of the Oscar-nominated screenplay May December), the hybrid Coyote vs. Acme is based on characters created by Chuck Jones and Mike Maltese. The film stars Will Forte, John Cena, Lana Condor, Tone Bell, and voice actor Eric Bauza. It is produced by Chris DeFaria and James Gunn.
I saw Coyote vs. Acme back in November 2023 and it’s arguably the best classic character hybrid film since Who Framed Roger Rabbit. The film fully captures the spirit of the original Looney Tunes, while expanding the emotional and narrative universe of the characters. That’s an easy thing to type, but extremely difficult to do in a feature-length production.
Why Warner Bros. isn’t releasing their own film will never be understood by anyone but studio bean counters, but this latest news is the best possible outcome for what has been a very long journey for this exceptional title.
