Was Coyote vs. Acme Canceled for a New Looney Tunes Movie?

Formally announced back in the summer of 2018, Coyote vs. Acme was on track to finally break an over-20-year-old curse from Warner Brothers regarding a Looney Tunes theatrical release (Space Jam: A New Legacy does not count since it was released on Max). The last big screen entry audiences received regarding this cartoon franchise was Looney Tunes: Back in Action in 2003, which sadly was a financial failure.

Starring Brendan Fraser and Jenna Elfman, this film did not deliver on the slapstick humor that goes hand in hand with the trademarked characters such as Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck. With such a long wait finally behind them, it seemed like moviegoers were ready for this family of zany and iconic names to return to the box office. With John Cena cast to be the lawyer for Acme and Will Forte to be the defense attorney for actor Wile E. Coyote, this legal comedy seemed well on track to be a great hit for all ages. Then, the hammer came down.

Along with some other titles that seemed to have become nothing more than tax write-offs for Warner Bros., like Batgirl and Scoob! Holiday Haunt, representatives for the American film studio announced that the film was done but would not be seen by the public going forward. Even after back-and-forth negotiations with distribution platforms like Amazon, Apple, Netflix, Paramount, and Sony (with the latter two reportedly making considerable bids) that raised hopes for fans worldwide, there seems to be no legitimate goal in sight. Will it ever see the light of day? Who knows? But what is known may surprise you. Another Looney Tunes movie is in the works – a fully animated, spiritual spin-off to the Duck Dodgers series from 2003.

What Is the Upcoming Looney Tunes Movie?

The Day The Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie will feature Daffy Duck alongside Porky and Petunia Pig as they attempt to stop mind-controlling aliens trying to take over the earth. As a storyboard teaser from The Wrap shows, the upcoming Looney Tunes-themed full-length feature will balance the stylized feel of the classic cartoon with situations and scenarios that connect with a more modern-day audience (present-day vehicles and building code violations, for example).

Just as there was for the live-action/animated hybrid that’s currently in limbo, which also saw the entire plot leaked recently, the same kind of unsteady decision-making seems to be haunting this movie as well (such as reversing decisions for it to have been exclusively streamed on Max at one point and having a much shorter title). Even so, The Day The Earth Blew Up seems to be the new catalyst for bringing Looney Tunes into the public eye again. So, with that in mind, why did we seemingly have to wave goodbye to Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner but say hello to Daffy Duck, Porky, and Petunia Pig? While the revelation may upset some, the answer may be much simpler than you realize.

Such films from the ’90s, like Warner Brothers’ own Space Jam and Buena Vista’s Who Framed Roger Rabbit, mixed live action with animation in a way that not only mesmerized audiences but led to great financial wins, with both of them returning at least three times as much as it cost to make them during their theatrical runs.

Looney Tunes: Back in Action, on the other hand, ruined the reputation of such luck, though, grossing $68.5 million on an $80 million budget. WB probably considered these numbers when contemplating the future of Coyote vs. Acme since it was the most recent release that showed the same style. The Day The Earth Blew Up, on the other hand, would most likely be the best of both worlds: entertaining audiences of all ages while also not breaking the bank.

With Warner Bros, Money Is the Matter

Regarding budget, Coyote vs. Acme allegedly cost $70 million (according to ScreenRant). Since The Day the Earth Blew Up is Looney Tunes’ first non-compilation feature film, the most relatable and most recent Warner Brothers property to assess within a budget type of framing then (and boasts the same 2D style) is something like Teen Titans Go! To The Movies. This 2018 film based on the Cartoon Network show was made with only $10 million and brought home well over five times more in worldwide gross.

Related

HBO Max Purge of 256 Looney Tunes Was Due to Temporary Maintenance

Looney Tunes were worried that 256 cartoons had been removed from HBO Max, but it seems that his was just to fix some title screen issues.

A Looney Tunes movie doesn’t necessarily need all that much budget, either, given the simple visual approach they aim for. Daffy Duck and Porky Pig especially do just fine in that type of space—just look at the accolades and awards that the Duck Dodgers series on Cartoon Network (and later Boomerang) obtained. It was even nominated for an Emmy in both 2004 and 2005.

Although Warner Brothers seems to be inevitably pushing Coyote vs. Acme out of the way for a simpler entry, hopefully, the upcoming science fiction flick that pits classic Looney Tunes characters against terrifying aliens will succeed. The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie is slated for a Fall 2024 release.