In an exciting turn of events for animated film fans, the long-delayed "Coyote vs. Acme" is on track to find a new home after being shelved by Warner Bros. over a year ago. The film, inspired by the beloved Looney Tunes franchise, is reportedly nearing a distribution agreement with Ketchup Entertainment, an independent distributor known for its eclectic lineup.

While the deal is not finalized, sources suggest that Ketchup Entertainment is likely to shell out around $50 million for distribution rights, as reported by Deadline. This bold move comes after Ketchup successfully released "The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie," which opened in theaters on March 14 and has already garnered $3.9 million at the domestic box office.

"Coyote vs. Acme" features a unique blend of live-action and animation, headlined by stars John Cena and Lana Condor. Directed by Dave Green and produced by James Gunn—co-chief of DC Studios—the film had aimed to deliver the classic comedic chaos associated with its predecessors. However, in a shocking decision, Warner Bros. chose to shelve the completed project in November 2023 as part of a $30 million tax write-off strategy that sparked outrage within the creative community.

The filmmaker team was allowed to seek out new distribution avenues post-shelving. Notably, streaming giants like Amazon Prime Video, Apple, and Netflix were among the platforms that expressed interest, although negotiations ultimately fell through.

The shelving of "Coyote vs. Acme" was part of a controversial trend at Warner Bros. to cut costs after the pandemic, leading to the cancellation of several projects including the much-anticipated "Batgirl" and "Scoob! Holiday Haunt," which also suffered the same fate as tax write-offs. These decisions have drawn heavy criticism from industry insiders and fans alike, particularly as they impacted projects greenlit under the previous leadership of Jason Kilar, who left the company in April 2022.

Founded in 2012, Ketchup Entertainment has carved a niche in the indie film market, releasing films like "Goodrich" starring Michael Keaton, thrillers such as "Hypnotic" featuring Ben Affleck, and "Memory," a drama headlined by Jessica Chastain.

As anticipation builds for the eventual release of "Coyote vs. Acme," fans are left wondering—will this long-awaited film provide the nostalgic thrill that Looney Tunes aficionados have been craving? Stay tuned for more updates on this promising resurrection!