According to a new report from Deadline, Warner Bros Discovery is negotiating the sale of the shelved movie ‘Coyote vs. Acme’, which stars WWE’s John Cena.
The report notes Gareth West’s distributor-financier Ketchup Entertainment is negotiating an all-rights acquisition in the $50M range for the animated/live-action film. Last year, Ketchup rescued WBD’s The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie. If a deal between WBD and Ketchup comes to fruition, ‘Coyote vs. Acme’ would see a 2026 release in theaters.
‘Coyote vs. Acme’ sees Wile E. Coyote suing Acme after the products fail one to many times in his chase after the roadrunner. The case has Wile E. and his lawyer (Will Forte) going up against the Coyote’s boss (John Cena). However, a growing friendship between man and Coyote raises excitement for their determination to win.
Deadline further notes that despite a well received screen two-years ago, the film fell victim to WBD’s cost cutting measures and has been sitting on the shelf now for over a year. WDB reportedly has shopped around for buyers in last year, with an asking price of right around $70 million, which was said to have been what is cost to make the film.