Richard Osman criticises Warner Bros over ‘most disgusting thing that’s happened’ to film
Richard Osman criticises Warner Bros over ‘most disgusting thing that’s happened’ to film
Lauren Morris Tue, September 1, 2026 at 2:07 PM UTC
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Richard Osman has urged his fans to support Coyote vs. Acme, after the animated comedy was revived by another production company following the “disgusting” decision of Warner Bros to axe it.
It has been a long road to our screens for the Looney Tunes movie, which was shelved by Warner Bros in 2023 in order to claim a $70m (£51.7m) tax write-off.
Based on a column in The New Yorker, Coyote vs. Acme follows fictional jackal Wile E Coyote as he hires a lawyer (played by Will Forte) to sue the Acme corporation over the many faulty products he’s used in attempts to kill his nemesis Roadrunner.
Despite a star-studded cast – including John Cena – and positive reactions from test audiences, Warner Bros binned the film in its entirety before independent studio Ketchup Entertainment acquired the rights to it for $50m (£36.9m) in March 2025.
‘Coyote vs. Acme’ – starring Will Forte and Lana Condor – was binned by Warner Bros in 2023
Following the film’s release in cinemas last week, The Rest is Entertainment host Osman chose to shout it out on the podcast – asking film lovers to buy tickets to see the “really funny” film.
“They made it, everyone was happy with it and then [Warner Bros] wrote it off as a tax loss,” he said. “They just did not put it out. It’s now been bought by an indie and it’s being distributed.
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“They obviously don’t have the money of Warner so it’s a worthwhile thing to support. I went to see it and it’s really funny.”
Osman went on to criticise Warner Bros for their treatment of the film, adding: “It’s something it’d be nice to support because someone did take a punt to take this thing that Warners had literally – I mean it’s one of the most disgusting things that’s happened in culture.
“People have made this film. It’s a really great film and they just said, ‘Oh no, just for our tax bill, we’re just not going to show it.’ You think, ‘Oh come on.’”
Richard Osman called out Warner Bros on his podcast (The Rest is Entertainment/Goalhanger)
The Independent has contacted Warner Bros for comment.
The Looney Tunes film opened in cinemas last week, debuting with an estimated $15.5 million (£11.4m) in ticket sales over the weekend. Its director Dave Green took to social media to celebrate its release, writing: “Coyote vs. Acme is finally, gloriously, in theaters now. Which means one thing. WE WON.”
Meanwhile, it has received a Certified Fresh rating of 95 per cent of Rotten Tomatoes, while users gave it an “A” on the site CinemaScore.
Coyote vs Acme is not the only film Warner Bros has axed in recent years. Superhero film Batgirl and animated Scooby Doo spin-off Scoob! Holiday Haunt both suffered the same fate in 2022, and remain unreleased to this day.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
