'Coyote vs. Acme' revived after Warner Bros. shelved the Looney Tunes spinoff

It seems as though Wile E. Coyote will get his star turn after all.

The Looney Tunes villain, best known for his merciless pursuits of Road Runner, will star in the revived feature film "Coyote vs. Acme," Ketchup Entertainment confirmed in a press release Monday. The production company acquired the worldwide rights to the live-action/animated hybrid from Warner Bros. Pictures, which shelved the movie from release in late 2023.

"'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," Ketchup Entertainment CEO Gareth West said in a statement. "We believe it will resonate with both longtime fans and newcomers alike."

Ketchup Entertainment did not share a release date for the film, which stars John Cena, Lana Condor, Will Forte and Tone Bell. The Dave Green-directed flick centers on Wile E. Coyote as he takes legal action against the Acme Corporation for its "countless faulty products that have hindered his relentless pursuit of the Road Runner."

The acquisition of "Coyote vs. Acme" comes after Ketchup Entertainment distributed the 2024 Looney Tunes film "The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie." The film grossed $10.5 million at the global box office.

Why was 'Coyote vs. Acme' shelved?

"Coyote vs. Acme's" silver-screen debut came to a screeching halt in November 2023 after Warner Bros. announced it was no longer releasing the film. The Hollywood Reporter and Variety reported the news at the time.

The move followed the studio's shocking 2022 decision to shelve a trio of films: "Batgirl," which was mostly completed and scheduled for release on HBO Max, along with DC's "Wonder Twins" and "Scoob!: Holiday Haunt."

"With the re-launch of Warner Bros. Pictures Animation in June, the studio has shifted its global strategy to focus on theatrical releases," a Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group spokesperson told the outlets. "With this new direction, we have made the difficult decision not to move forward with 'Coyote vs. Acme.' We have tremendous respect for the filmmakers, casts and crew and are grateful for their contributions to the film."

In a February interview with MovieWeb, Forte blasted Warner Bros.' cancellation of the film, telling the outlet, "It is such a delightful movie. It deserves so much better than it got. I can't tell you possibly why the decision was made to not release it. But it makes my blood boil."

"I appreciate them letting us make it, but don't let us make this thing that we fall in love with and then not show it. I would understand if the thing sucked, but it's really good," Forte continued. "Maybe somehow we get to see it at some point. I hope people do. I was really proud of it."

Contributing: Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY