Story perspectives

Ketchup Entertainment Buys “Coyote vs. ACME” Rights for $50 Million

8/20/2026

Summary

John Cena Release

John Cena sees “Coyote vs. ACME” released in U.S. theaters on August 28, 2026.
Warner Bros. Discovery shelved the $70 million film in 2023 for a $30 million tax write-down.
Ketchup Entertainment bought worldwide rights for about $50 million after fan outcry.
Analysts say the film could outgross Warner’s summer hit “Supergirl” amid Paramount Skydance takeover talk.

Summary

Dave Green Homages

Director Dave Green cites 1980s-1990s family films as inspiration for the movie’s tone.
Green and star Will Forte say the film heavily references Who Framed Roger Rabbit.
The production uses practical effects to recreate classic Looney Tunes slap-slapstick aesthetics.
Critics note the movie revives a bygone era of family-friendly entertainment without pandering.
Early live-action/animation hybrids such as 1940’s You Oughta Be in Pictures are cited as precedents.

History

Historical Context

In 1945 MGM released Anchors Aweigh, a pioneering film that blended live-action with animation, featuring Gene Kelly dancing with Jerry Mouse in a rotoscoped sequence. The movie ranked fifth-highest that year, earning over $4.78 million, proving the commercial appeal of hybrid spectacles. That legacy guides Warner Bros. Discovery’s revived Coyote vs. ACME and other studios’ push for effects-rich family projects today.

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John Cena Release

John Cena sees “Coyote vs. ACME” released in U.S. theaters on August 28, 2026.
Warner Bros. Discovery shelved the $70 million film in 2023 for a $30 million tax write-down.
Ketchup Entertainment bought worldwide rights for about $50 million after fan outcry.
Analysts say the film could outgross Warner’s summer hit “Supergirl” amid Paramount Skydance takeover talk.

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