Ketchup Entertainment Resurrects ‘Coyote vs. Acme’ for Theatrical Release

It’s official—Wile E. Coyote’s never-ending battle against the Road Runner is about to get a very different kind of twist. Ketchup Entertainment, the company behind the recent release of The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie, has announced it’s acquired the rights to Coyote vs. Acme, a live-action/animated hybrid comedy that was previously shelved by Warner Bros. Discovery. After being written off as a tax loss in 2023, fans can now rest easy as Ketchup Entertainment plans to give this long-awaited film the theatrical debut it deserves.

For those unfamiliar with the backstory, Coyote vs. Acme is inspired by a 1990 New Yorker short story by Ian Frazier, which imagines a legal showdown where Wile E. Coyote sues the Acme Corporation for selling him faulty products that have caused him far more harm than help in his pursuit of the ever-elusive Road Runner. (Funny!) The adaptation is penned by a star-studded writing team, including James Gunn (um, the Guardians of the Galaxy, running DC Studios, etc), Jeremy Slater (creator of The Umbrella Academy), and Samy Burch (May December of all things), with Burch taking the reins on the screenplay.

In the film, voice actor Eric Bauza, who has voiced many Looney Tunes characters in recent years, lends his voice to the iconic Coyote, while John Cena and Will Forte step into the roles of the lawyers representing Acme and the Coyote, respectively. With this powerhouse cast, the film promises to bring a fresh take on the beloved franchise.

But what makes Coyote vs. Acme stand out, besides the obvious “who’s suing who” premise, is how it blends nostalgia with modern sensibilities. It’s a smart, self-aware, and irreverent comedy that’s just as likely to draw laughs from longtime fans of the classic cartoon as it is from newer audiences looking for something a little offbeat.

“We believe it will resonate with both longtime fans and newcomers alike,” said Gareth West, CEO of Ketchup Entertainment. The film is shaping up to be a love letter to the Looney Tunes legacy while simultaneously offering a fresh narrative that speaks to a new generation of viewers.

It’s a win for all the Looney Tunes lovers who have been waiting for Wile E. Coyote’s big-screen moment—and for the rest of us who just can’t get enough of his endless (and often painful) pursuit of that speedy bird.