History of Coyote vs. Acme in Timeline

Coyote vs. Acme is an upcoming live-action animated legal comedy film directed by Dave Green. Based on Ian Frazier's 1990 article, the film centers on Wile E. Coyote suing the Acme Corporation for their consistently faulty products. The screenplay is by Samy Burch from a story by Burch, James Gunn, and Jeremy Slater. Will Forte, Lana Condor, and John Cena star in the movie.

1988: Who Framed Roger Rabbit as a Reference

The creative team acknowledged Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988) as a reference for the film's live-action interaction with animated characters.

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1990: Publication of "Coyote v. Acme" by Ian Frazier

In 1990, Ian Frazier's article "Coyote v. Acme" was published in The New Yorker, serving as the basis for the upcoming film. The article itself uses elements from the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies franchise.

1990: Inspiration from New Yorker Article

In 1990, the film draws inspiration from the fictional New Yorker article of the same name by Ian Frazier.

2015: Gunn Pitched the Film's Concept

Around 2015, James Gunn pitched the concept for Coyote vs. Acme to Warner Bros. and brought Slater to write the film's first draft.

2017: The Lego Batman Movie Release

The Lego Batman Movie, which Chris McKay directed, was released in 2017.

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August 2018: Warner Bros. Announces Coyote vs. Acme

In August 2018, Warner Bros. Pictures announced the development of a Wile E. Coyote project, titled Coyote vs. Acme, with Chris McKay as producer and Jon and Josh Silberman writing the script.

August 2018: Development Begins

In August 2018, development began on Coyote vs. Acme with Chris McKay as producer and Jon and Josh Silberman writing the screenplay.

December 2019: Dave Green Hired to Direct

In December 2019, Dave Green was hired to direct Coyote vs. Acme.

December 2020: Creative Team Changes

In December 2020, Chris McKay left the project, and Jon and Josh Silberman left their producing roles and returned to screenwriting duties alongside Samy Burch, Jeremy Slater, and James Gunn for Coyote vs. Acme.

2021: Tom & Jerry producer credit

In 2021, Chris DeFaria produced Tom & Jerry.

2021: The Suicide Squad release

In 2021, John Cena collaborated with James Gunn on The Suicide Squad.

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February 2022: John Cena Cast as Antagonist

In February 2022, John Cena was cast as the main antagonist in Coyote vs. Acme.

April 26, 2022: Film Removed From Release Schedule

On April 26, 2022, Warner Bros. removed Coyote vs. Acme from its release schedule, replacing it with Barbie.

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May 2022: Live-action Filming Concludes

In May 2022, live-action filming for Coyote vs. Acme concluded in New Mexico.

May 2022: Principal Photography Concludes

In May 2022, principal photography for Coyote vs. Acme concluded in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

November 2022: Character Confirmations

In November 2022, Foghorn Leghorn, Granny, Sylvester the Cat, and Tweety were confirmed to be in the film Coyote vs. Acme.

December 2022: Additional Character Confirmations

In December 2022, Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Elmer Fudd, and Yosemite Sam were confirmed to be in the film Coyote vs. Acme.

January 2023: Porky Pig Confirmed

In January 2023, Porky Pig was also confirmed to be in the film Coyote vs. Acme.

March 2023: Final Writing Credits Announced

In March 2023, the final writing credits for Coyote vs. Acme were given, with Samy Burch receiving sole credit for the screenplay and shared credit for the story with Slater and Gunn.

July 21, 2023: Initial Planned Release Date

Coyote vs. Acme was initially planned to be theatrically released in the United States on July 21, 2023, by Warner Bros. Pictures before being removed from the schedule.

November 9, 2023: Warner Bros. Shelves Completed Film

On November 9, 2023, Warner Bros. announced that the completed film Coyote vs. Acme would not be released, opting instead for a tax loss, which drew criticism from filmmakers and animation outlets.

November 13, 2023: Warner Bros. Reverses Decision

On November 13, 2023, it was reported that Warner Bros. Discovery reversed its decision and allowed the filmmakers the option to shop the film to other distributors.

November 2023: Coyote vs. Acme Initially Shelved

In November 2023, Warner Bros. Discovery initially shelved Coyote vs. Acme to obtain a tax write-off.

2023: Warner Bros. Discovery Q4 earnings call

Warner Bros. Discovery Q4 2023 earnings call took place.

February 9, 2024: Warner Bros. Discovery Rejected Bids

On February 9, 2024, TheWrap reported that Warner Bros. Discovery had rejected the bids from Netflix, Amazon, and Paramount for Coyote vs. Acme.

February 2024: Will Forte's Public Statement

In February 2024, Will Forte released a public statement addressed to the cast and crew of Coyote vs. Acme after seeing the final cut of the film.

February 23, 2024: Warner Bros. Discovery Write-Down

Following their Q4 2023 earnings call on February 23, 2024, Warner Bros. Discovery took a $115 million write-down while not directly confirming the cancellation of Coyote vs. Acme.

March 10, 2024: Samy Burch Comments at Academy Awards

On March 10, 2024, during the red carpet for the 96th Academy Awards, Samy Burch said conversations were still ongoing within Warner Bros. regarding Coyote vs. Acme.

April 2024: Warner Bros. Statement on Film's Availability

In April 2024, a Warner Bros. spokesperson told The New York Times that Coyote vs. Acme "remains available for acquisition."

May 31, 2024: Batgirl Directors Comment on Coyote vs. Acme

In an interview with Screen Rant on May 31, 2024, Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, directors of the cancelled Batgirl film, revealed that they are both friends with Dave Green and said that movies must be seen by the audience, and the audience must judge them.

2024: Ketchup Entertainment's The Day the Earth Blew Up release

In 2024, Ketchup Entertainment released The Day the Earth Blew Up.

January 2025: Condor Reveals Funeral Screening

In January 2025, Lana Condor revealed that the film had a funeral screening when news of the initial cancellation was first broken.

March 2025: Ketchup Entertainment Acquires Rights

In March 2025, Ketchup Entertainment acquired the rights to Coyote vs. Acme after Warner Bros. Discovery reversed its decision to shelve the film.

March 19, 2025: Ketchup Entertainment in Talks to Acquire Rights

On March 19, 2025, it was reported that Ketchup Entertainment was in talks to acquire all rights to Coyote vs. Acme from Warner Bros.

March 31, 2025: Ketchup Entertainment Acquisition Announcement

On March 31, 2025, it was announced that the film Coyote vs. Acme is set to be released in 2026, following the film's acquisition by Ketchup Entertainment.