John Cena Breaks Silence on 'Coyote vs. Acme' Controversy
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In 2023, fans of Looney Tunes and animation in general were disheartened when it was announced that the highly anticipated film "Coyote vs. Acme" starring Will Forte and John Cena would not be released so Warner Bros. could receive a tax cut.
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This garnered a massive reaction from the cast and crew as well as fans around the world, eventually leading to Warner Bros. reversing the decision and allowing the creators to shop the film to other distributors.
'COYOTE VS ACME' has been officially saved by Ketchup Entertainment, who bought the film for $50M
They plan to give the film a worldwide theatrical release in 2026. pic.twitter.com/2HUls3ztkq — DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) March 31, 2025
Now, "Coyote vs. Acme" has found a new home with Ketchup Entertainment, the same company that distributed "The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie."
The film is slated to be released in 2026, and it seems Cena couldn't be happier.
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 13: John Cena attends the Los Angeles Premiere of Amazon MGM Studios "Jackpot" at TCL Chinese Theatre on August 13, 2024 in Hollywood, California.
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 13: John Cena attends the Los Angeles Premiere of Amazon MGM Studios "Jackpot" at TCL Chinese Theatre on August 13, 2024 in Hollywood, California.
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic/Getty Images
In an interview with ScreenRant, Cena revealed how optimistic and ecstatic he was that "Coyote vs. Acme" had been acquired by Ketchup Entertainment.
"Anytime you put your heart and soul into something and it gets shelved is tough," Cena said. "Again, it ain't my sandbox, so I completely understand those decisions. But the fact that companies could and the movie could get shown and that we do what we do to try and entertain.
"I know the audiences that were able to see 'Coyote vs. Acme' were entertained, so hopefully that audience grows larger."
"I just saw it for the first time very recently," Cena concluded. "It's a bunch of fun and I'm glad it's out of the dusty box."
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Cena's reaction is much more diplomatic and friendly than co-star Will Forte's, who said the movie didn't deserve to be shelved and that he had "not forgotten" what Warner Bros. did.
"Look, when it comes to Hollywood stuff, I don't know s*** about s***," Forte said on social media after the cancellation. "Even when a movie tests very well (like ours), there's no guarantee that it's going to be a hit. And at the end of the day, the people who paid for this movie can obviously do what they want with it.
"It doesn't mean I have to like it (I f****** hate it). Or agree with it. And it doesn't mean this movie is any less magical."
To the cast and crew of Coyote vs Acme… pic.twitter.com/UdttuEs9J7 — Will Forte (@OrvilleIV) February 29, 2024
Now, it appears that audiences around the world will finally get to experience the magic and joy that is "Coyote vs Acme."
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