NEW YORK (AP) — For once, things are working out for Wile E. Coyote.
After being shelved by Warner Bros. in 2023, the Looney Tunes film “Coyote vs. Acme” has found a new home. Ketchup Entertainment announced Monday that it acquired worldwide distribution rights to the film for an undisclosed sum.
The deal gives new life to one of the three fully completed films that Warner Bros. elected to take a tax write-off on rather than release. The tactic, which followed a change in leadership at Warner Bros. coming out of the pandemic, was widely disparaged by creatives and fans, alike. The other two shelved movies — the $90 million DC Studios production “Batgirl” and the animated “Scoob! Holiday Haunt” — remain unreleased.
But “Coyote vs. Acme” will be salvaged from the dustbin. Ketchup Entertainment plans a theatrical release at an unspecified future date.
“We’re thrilled to have made a deal with Warner Bros. Pictures to bring this film to audiences worldwide,” Gareth West, chief executive of Ketchup Entertainment, said in a statement. “‘Coyote vs Acme’ is a perfect blend of nostalgia and modern storytelling, capturing the essence of the beloved Looney Tunes characters while introducing them to a new generation.”
Directed by Dave Green and based on a New Yorker article by Ian Frazier, “Coyote vs. Acme” follows Wile E. Coyote in a lawsuit against Acme Corporation for the many faulty products that failed to catch him the Road Runner. The live-action animated hybrid stars John Cena and Will Forte.
Deadline earlier reported that Ketchup paid about $50 million for the film, which cost $70 million to produce. Ketchup, a distribution company launched in 2012, also recently released another Looney Tunes film jettisoned by Warner Bros.: “The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie.” In three weeks of release, it's grossed $8.2 million in domestic ticket sales.
John Cena appears at the premiere of the film "Argylle"' in London on Jan. 24, 2024 , left, and Will Forte appears at the premiere of Netflix's "Kinda Pregnant" in New York on Feb. 3, 2025. (AP Photo)
NEW YORK (AP) — Zac Gallen tied his career high with 13 strikeouts while extending his scoreless streak against the New York Yankees to 18 2/3 innings, and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hit a two-run homer in the first off Carlos Rodón that started the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 4-3 win Wednesday night.
Gallen (1-1) rebounded from an opening day loss to the Chicago Cubs by allowing three hits with no walks. He got 10 strikeouts on his knuckle-curve and improved to 3-0 against the Yankees.
He also fanned 13 at the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sept. 22, 2022.
A.J. Puk allowed Anthony Volpe's opposite-field three-run homer in the ninth, then retired Austin Wells on a foulout and struck out Jasson Domínguez for his second save in two nights.
Aaron Judge had three of the Yankees' 16 strikeouts. New York has whiffed 30 times in losing the first two games of the series after an opening sweep of Milwaukee.
Rodón (1-1) allowed four runs, three hits and four walks in the first two innings, his velocity down about 2.5 mph, but then threw four hitless innings.
Ketel Marte walked leading off the game after falling behind 0-2, and Gurriel drove an 0-2 fastball into the left-field second deck.
Geraldo Perdomo hit a sacrifice fly in the second and Marte followed with an RBI single. A short while later, Arizona announced Marte had agreed to a contract guaranteeing $116.5 million through 2031.
Marte also made a nice stop on Cody Bellinger while falling in the sixth and from a sitting position threw to second for a forceout.
Rodón, in short sleeves on a 42-degree night, was hit on the right forearm by a 115.5 mph liner off the bat of Marte in the fifth and recovered to throw him out at first. Rodón said X-rays were negative.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. singled in the third and Wells hit a one-out double, but Gallen struck out Domínguez and Ben Rice.
Before his home run, Gurriel had been hitless in his prior 34 at-bats against the Yankees dating to August 2022.
Yankees RHP Carlos Carrasco (0-0) and Diamondbacks RHP Merrill Kelly (1-0) start Thursday's series finale.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
New York Yankees' Ben Rice strikes out during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
New York Yankees' Oswaldo Cabrera (95) is out at second base during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
New York Yankees' Ben Rice walks to the dugout after striking out during the eight inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
New York Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodón grimaces after throwing during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Arizona Diamondbacks' Lourdes Gurriel Jr. reacts after homering on a fly ball to left field during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Arizona Diamondbacks' Lourdes Gurriel Jr. reacts after homering on a fly ball to left field during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Arizona Diamondbacks' Lourdes Gurriel Jr. reacts after homering on a fly ball to left field during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Arizona Diamondbacks' Lourdes Gurriel Jr. reacts after homering on a fly ball to left field during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zac Gallen throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zac Gallen throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
