Story perspectives

Warner Reverses Shelved $70M Looney Film; Ketchup to Release 2026

4/24/2026

Summary

Warner Reinstates Film

After backlash, Warner Bros. Discovery reversed its November 2023 decision to shelve the $70 million “Coyote vs. Acme,” incurring a $30 million tax loss.
Ketchup Entertainment bought the rights in March 2025 for roughly $50 million and will release the movie nationwide on August 28, 2026.
The April 22, 2026 trailer shows Will Forte as attorney Kevin Avery, John Cena as Acme counsel Buddy Crane, Lana Condor, Tone Bell and Eric Bauza, Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig and Looney Tunes characters in a courtroom comedy.

Summary

Warner Write-down

Warner Bros. announced a $115 million write-down of the completed film, sparking debate over unreleased movies as tax assets.
The movie adapts Ian Frazier’s 1990 New Yorker humor piece “Coyote v. Acme” into a courtroom comedy.
Director Dave Green, known for “The King’s Man”, applies his action-comedy style to the Looney Tunes world.
Screenwriters Samy Burch, James Gunn and Jeremy Slater collaborate, giving Gunn his first non-superhero comedy credit.

History

Historical Context

Ian Frazier's 1990 article "Coyote v. Acme" humorously depicts Wile E. Coyote's legal battle against the Acme Corporation, reflecting a long-standing tradition of satire in American media. Warner Bros. Discovery's recent $115 million write-down highlights ongoing industry tensions over unreleased projects, while the adaptation of Frazier's work into a courtroom comedy signals a revival of classic characters for contemporary audiences, set to release on August 28, 2026.

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Warner Reinstates Film

After backlash, Warner Bros. Discovery reversed its November 2023 decision to shelve the $70 million “Coyote vs. Acme,” incurring a $30 million tax loss.
Ketchup Entertainment bought the rights in March 2025 for roughly $50 million and will release the movie nationwide on August 28, 2026.
The April 22, 2026 trailer shows Will Forte as attorney Kevin Avery, John Cena as Acme counsel Buddy Crane, Lana Condor, Tone Bell and Eric Bauza, Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig and Looney Tunes characters in a courtroom comedy.

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