Are Warner Bros. Really Selling Looney Tunes? Here’s What Fans Need to Know!

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Many fellow “Looney Tunes” enthusiasts and I have been overjoyed for a valid reason. The 2025 movie schedule has brought us the first film from the series in years titled “The Day the Earth Blew Up“, and more recently, discussions about the potential sale and eventual release of “Coyote Vs Acme” have resurfaced, a project that has been on hold for quite some time.

Due to recent speculation, it seems Warner Bros could be planning a significant shift for characters like Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and their gang. This news has me feeling quite ambivalent about the situation. Let’s discuss this further.

Warner Bros. Might Be Looking For A New Home For The Looney Tunes

Recently, there have been whispers that Warner Bros. might be planning to offload the property titled “Coyote vs. Acme” to Ketchup Entertainment. If this deal goes through, it’s estimated to be worth approximately $50 million. Compared to its bidding war price range of $75 – $80 million from last year, this would indeed be a significant reduction in the asking price.

It appears The InSneider (via ComingSoon) hints at a possible larger transaction behind the reported lower price, as he suggests Warner Bros might be trying to sell off their entire ownership of Looney Tunes. This could potentially explain why the cartoons were taken down from Max, according to his statements. Here’s a part of what he said…

It appears that one explanation for Warner Bros. choosing to sell “Coyote vs. Acme” to Ketchup instead of claiming a tax credit just prior to Tax Day (April 15) is due to their intent to dispose of the entire Looney Tunes franchise.

Currently, I’m torn between feelings due to some intriguing aspects. Warner Bros hasn’t been very active with the Looney Tunes franchise of late. However, Ketchup Entertainment seems to have poured a great deal of affection and dedication into their latest projects, as I pointed out in my review of The Day the Earth Blew Up.

It’s my hope that this decision will pass the series into caring hands, given that a fresh Looney Tunes adventure is playing in cinemas as we speak. Ideally, ownership should be with a company that values the gang and prioritizes their use. This could lead to regular movie releases, TV shows, and other content, which would be wonderful. However, there’s a significant risk involved: our beloved characters might lose their historical protection if they change hands.

The Looney Tunes Sale Would Be A Huge Change For The Studio, And Potentially The Brand

Although I appreciate Ketchup Entertainment’s role in distributing The Day the Earth Blew Up, my primary concern is that its relatively modest size as a studio could potentially be quite restrictive. Notably, Warner Bros. Animation was responsible for producing this latest box office hit, which had an estimated production budget of $15 million. Ketchup Entertainment came in to handle the distribution.

For a prominent studio like Warner Bros., the risks are relatively small, but a potential acquisition like “Coyote vs. Acme” for $50 million could mean more for an independent studio. Interestingly, this film is reportedly priced at around $70 – $72 million to produce, which might lead to losses if sold. Their latest production with a licensed IP, “Hellboy: The Crooked Man,” cost only $20 million to make, and it’s this pattern of production costs that I fear will be repeated.

In simpler terms, Warner Bros is so large and active that it can handle both successes and failures. However, if a smaller studio like Ketchup acquires the rights, it implies that each of their projects must be successful to avoid significant repercussions for the franchise. This is because if the company attempts to produce something on a budget similar to ‘Coyote vs Acme’ instead of ‘The Day The Earth Blew Up’, they might face financial difficulties.

Towards the end of last year, I came across a tantalizing piece of news by Collider about a “super secret” animation project based on Looney Tunes, supposedly being developed at Warner Bros. Pictures Animation. Details are scarce, but if the rumors are true and this deal materializes, it seems Ketchup Entertainment might be the ones funding this venture. If that’s the case, the most optimistic outlook would be that the studio could finance the entire production on their own. Given a lower or mid-budget project, they might have the resources to handle it as well.

If the upcoming project proves to be extremely costly, it might lead to a shared funding situation that could potentially complicate the rights of characters similar to Looney Tunes, making the Amazon-MGM James Bond dispute appear as a delightful rendition of “Those Endearing Young Charms,” even including the comically timed explosions.

There’s uncertainty about the authenticity of this report, so it might turn out to be unnecessary worry. However, if true, selling Looney Tunes aligns with David Zaslav’s well-known “open for business” policy, which could place the renowned franchise in new, unpredictable hands.

As a movie enthusiast, I’m choosing to savor this moment rather than dwell too deeply on future possibilities. After all, “The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie” has graced our screens, and we might just witness the long-awaited battle between Coyote and Acme soon. The stakes are undeniably high for these films, as their box office success could determine the fate of the entire brand. But for today, let’s just say that’s not the whole story, fellow cinephiles.

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2025-03-21 21:40