It has been nearly a year since Warner Bros. made the decision to shelveCoyote vs. Acmein favor of a tax write-off, and while fans are still hoping to get some positive news on that, there is anotherLooney Tunesmovie Warner Bros. also tried to scrap now set to get a release date.The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Moviefollows Porky Pig and Daffy Duck as they uncover a conspiracy for aliens to take over the planet and team up with Petunia Pig to save the world. The film was initially developed by Max, but it was shelved in August 2022 following Warner Bros. Discovery’s restructuring, the same event thatled to the cancellation ofBatgirl,Scoob! Holiday Hauntand many other projects.

Warner Bros. Discovery gave the creators the option to shop the film to other streaming services, but now it looks like it will be getting a full theatrical release. As reported byDeadline, Ketchup Entertainment has acquired the North American theatrical distribution rights toThe Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie, while GMF Animation has the worldwide distribution rights. The film has already premiered in Germany and Switzerland, but no release date has been set for the North American markets. Gareth West, CEO of Ketchup Entertainment, said following the deal:

Looney Tunes Title

“The Day the Earth Blew Upis a historical moment for the Looney Tunes franchise, and we are proud to be partnering with Warner Bros. Animation to bring this film to audiences theatrically. We cannot wait for audiences of all ages to experience one of the smartest animated films in recent years."

Meanwhile, Fred Hedman of GFM Animation said:

“Gareth’s enthusiasm for Warner Bros. Animation’s spectacular Looney adventure persuaded us that Ketchup Entertainment was the right partner for releasing the film in North America. We’re looking forward to continuing to work with the team as they prepare for audiences to embrace Porky Pig and Daffy Duck on the big screen."

Warner Bros. Discovery Don’t Seem to Know How to Handle Looney Tunes Anymore

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Warner Bros. seemed to be heavily invested in reviving theLooney Tunesbrand. They not only hadSpace Jam: A New Legacyset for release, but also the live-action/animated hybrid comedyCoyote vs. Acme.At the same time, they had announced bothThe Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movieand a musical,Bye Bye Bunny, intended for streaming release. Yet following the box office and critical disappointment ofSpace Jam: A New Legacy, Warner Bros. Discovery seemed to ax all their Looney Tunes plans.

Coyote vs. Acmewas completed, and despite reportedly having great test screenings,Warner Bros. Discovery instead decided it would be better to cancel itand get a write-off. No progress has been made onBye Bye Bunny, so the fact thatThe Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movienot only found a buyer but is moving up from streaming to a theatrical release is a big deal.

Looney Tunes first aired for children in the 1930s and 1940s, and yet, 80 years later, the cartoon is still popular among children.

DespiteLooney Tunesbeing one of Warner Bros.’s most iconic brands, it seems the studio has been more than happy to pass off the key brand to an outside partner. This is similar to how the new streaming seriesBatman: Caped Crusaderwas sold to Prime Videoafter Max scrapped plans for it. Now Ketchup Entertainment, an independent production company founded in 2011, has one of Warner Bros.’s most famous IPs.The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes MoviejoinsHellboy: The Crooked Manas a major acquisition by Ketchup Entertainment. The production company and distributor are collecting a series of wild card IP properties that others don’t seem to want or know what to do with.

The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Moviepremiered at the Annecy Animation Festival in France back in June 2024 to rave reviews from audiences in attendance. Asthe first full-length 2D animatedLooney Tunesfilmto be released in theaters, expectations are high, and it has the potential to be a critical and financial hit for Ketchup Entertainment. There is a good chance this could beanotherNimonasituation, where the shutting down of Blue Sky Animation by Disney led to Netflix and Annapurna Animation picking it up and finishing the film. It went on to be a hit, and was nominated for Best Animated Feature Film at the Oscars, something that Disney’s own 100-year anniversary movieWishfailed to do.