Warner Bros.' previously shelved film, Coyote vs. Acme, may still have a chance to hit the screens, according to a report from Deadline. The Los Angeles-based independent film production and distribution company, Ketchup Entertainment, is reportedly in deep negotiations to acquire the rights to Coyote vs. Acme. Although the deal is not yet finalized, a successful acquisition could pave the way for a theatrical release in 2026.
Coyote vs. Acme was announced in 2022 and draws inspiration from a 1990 Ian Frazier article published in The New Yorker. The film, co-written by James Gunn and featuring stars Will Forte and John Cena, was initially slated for a mid-2023 release on Max. However, despite completing filming, the movie was unexpectedly shelved, sparking a dedicated campaign to save it.
Ketchup Entertainment has a track record of rescuing films from similar fates. They recently saved Warner Bros.' The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie from being scrapped, securing it a theatrical release in the US. This film marks the first fully animated Looney Tunes movie to be shown in theaters, and IGN praised it as a "laugh-out-loud riot."
Ketchup Entertainment's portfolio includes other notable projects such as Hellboy: The Crooked Man and the Robert Rodriguez thriller Hypnotic, starring Ben Affleck. They also co-produced Michael Mann's 2023 biopic, Ferrari.