Keep Chasing That Bird: The Oral History of ‘Coyote vs. Acme’

Key Points:

• "Coyote vs. Acme," a live-action/animated hybrid movie about Wile E. Coyote suing the Acme Corporation for faulty products, was completed and well-received by test audiences but was initially shelved by Warner Bros. in late 2023 for a $30 million tax write-off under new CEO David Zaslav.
• The film, directed by Dave Green and inspired by Ian Frazier's 1990 New Yorker story, aimed to make Wile E. Coyote a sympathetic underdog, blending dark humor and family-friendly elements, with a cast including Will Forte, John Cena, and Lana Condor.
• The shelving sparked a grassroots campaign by Hollywood creatives and fans, generating significant social media buzz and industry support, leading to renewed interest and eventual acquisition by indie studio Ketchup Entertainment for around $50 million in March 2025.
• The production employed innovative techniques, including a life-sized Wile E. Coyote puppet on set to help actors interact with the animated character, and involved a lengthy development and postproduction process amid challenges like COVID-19 and industry strikes.
• The film's journey reflects broader tensions between art and commerce in Hollywood, highlighting the resilience of creators and fans in advocating for projects they believe in, with hopes that the movie's eventual theatrical release will demonstrate the value of quality storytelling.