List of Looney Tunes feature films

This is a list of feature films with appearances by the Looney Tunes characters, either centered on that series or just cameo roles only.

Compilation films

All directed by Friz Freleng except where noted. All on DVD except where noted.

Original films

Theatrical releases

Direct-to-video films

All titles below are available on DVD.

Television films

Theatrical cameos of Looney Tunes characters

Direct-to-video cameos of Looney Tunes characters

All titles below are available on DVD.

^S This film combines live-action with animation.

^A This film is an adult animated production.

^H This film was released theatrically and on HBO Max the same day.

Unreleased, cancelled and unproduced films

Several Looney Tunes films have been in development over the years. Listed below are projects that would be scrapped at some point during development.

Coyote vs. Acme

In late 2018, it was announced that Warner Bros. Pictures were developing a live-action animated film centered on Wile E. Coyote titled Coyote vs. Acme, produced by Warner Animation Group, with The Lego Batman Movie director Chris McKay on board to produce.^[18][19] The film is said to be based on The New Yorker short story "Coyote v. Acme" by author Ian Frazier.^[20] Published in 1990, the piece imagined a lawsuit brought about by Wile E. Coyote against the Acme Company who provided him with various devices and tools to aid in his pursuit of the Road Runner. The devices frequently malfunctioned, leading to the humorous failures, injuries, and sight gags the Road Runner cartoons are known for.^[21] Jon and Josh Silberman were originally set to write the screenplay.^[18]

On December 18, 2019, it was reported that Dave Green would direct the project.^[19] It was also reported that the project was looking for a new writer, with Jon and Josh Silberman instead co-producing the film alongside McKay,^[19] however, by December 2020, McKay departed the project while Jon and Josh Silberman left their roles as producers and resumed their screenwriting roles, with Samy Burch, Jeremy Slater, and James Gunn scheduled to write its screenplay. Gunn would also co-produce the project alongside Chris DeFaria. It was later announced that the film was scheduled to be released on July 21, 2023.^[22] In February 2022, it was announced that professional wrestler John Cena would star in the film.^[23] In March 2022, Will Forte and Lana Condor were added to the cast.^[24] On April 26, 2022, it was taken off the release schedule with Barbie taking over its original release date.^[25]

Despite its completion by November 9, 2023, it was announced that its theatrical and public release would be cancelled, with Warner Bros. Discovery opting to take an approximate US$30 million tax write-off for the film. Green, reportedly an avid Looney Tunes fan, later expressed his views on the decision:

I am beyond proud of the final product, and beyond devastated by WB’s decision. But in the spirit of Wile E. Coyote, resilience and persistence win the day.^[26][27]

However, four days later, the decision was reversed. Later that day, it was reported that Warner Bros would instead allow the crew behind Coyote vs. Acme to shop out the film to other possible distributors, with Apple TV+, Netflix, and Amazon MGM Studios being amongst its potential buyers.^[28] Due to the company's handling of the matter, U.S. Congressman Joaquin Castro called for a federal investigation regarding the film's initial cancellation and tax-write off plan, stemming from possible violations of antitrust guidelines.^[29]

On December 8, it was reported that the film had been screened to Paramount Pictures, Netflix, Apple, Amazon and Sony Pictures. At that point, two of these studios, Netflix and Paramount, had made bids for the rights to the film, with the latter planning to release it theatrically. Amazon was still considering about making a formal bid, while Sony and Apple were not planning to do so.^[30]

On February 9, 2024, TheWrap reported that Warner Bros. Discovery had rejected the bids from Netflix, Amazon, and Paramount.^[31] The company wanted $75–$80 million to sell the film, but no distributors matched their price, and Warner Bros. Discovery rejected counter bids. The company considered shelving and deleting the film (which remained in limbo at the time) and again claim it as a tax loss.^{[32][33][34][35][36]} Following their fourth earnings call on February 23, 2024, Warner Bros. Discovery took a $115 million write-down while the film's fate became unclear.^[37] On March 10, 2024, screenwriter Samy Burch stated that the film may possibly be released, with conversations are still ongoing within the studio.^[38]

Original Space Jam sequel and spin-offs

Prior to the development of Space Jam: A New Legacy, the project was intended to be a direct sequel to the 1996 original, with development beginning shortly after that film's release. The proposed sequel would have involved a new basketball competition with Michael Jordan and the Looney Tunes against a new alien villain named Berserk-O!. Artist Bob Camp was tasked with designing Berserk-O! and his henchmen. Joe Pytka would have returned to direct while Cervone and his creative partner Spike Brandt signed on to direct the animation sequences. However, Jordan did not agree to star in a sequel, and Warner Bros. eventually cancelled plans for the film.^[39]

Several potential spin-offs, including Spy Jam with Jackie Chan that would end up becoming the basis for Looney Tunes: Back in Action, Race Jam with Jeff Gordon, Golf Jam with Tiger Woods,^[40][41] and Skate Jam with Tony Hawk were all discussed but never came to be.^[42]

Untitled Marvin the Martian film

On July 29, 2008, Warner Bros. and Alcon Entertainment announced plans for a Marvin the Martian live action/animated film, starring Mike Myers as the voice of Marvin and Christopher Lee as Santa Claus. The film would have involved Marvin trying to destroy the Earth during Christmas by becoming a competitor of Santa Claus but being prevented from accomplishing his goal when Santa wraps him inside a gift box. Alcon compared the project to other films such as Racing Stripes and My Dog Skip.^[43] It was initially scheduled for an October 7, 2011 release, but the movie was later taken off the schedule and no information has been disclosed since. Test footage of the film and the Eddie Murphy vehicle Hong Kong Phooey was leaked on December 28, 2012.^[44]

Untitled Speedy Gonzales film

In 2010, Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema announced a Speedy Gonzales live action/animated feature film. George Lopez was attached to voice the character. In December 2015, it was reported that an animated film was in development at Warner Bros., under the working title Speedy.^[45] In April 2016, it was announced that Eugenio Derbez would voice the character.^[46] No further information has been disclosed since.

Untitled Pepé Le Pew film

In October 2010, it was reported that Mike Myers would voice Pepé Le Pew in a feature-length live-action/animated film based on the character, although no information about this project has surfaced since.^[47] In July 2016, it was revealed at San Diego Comic-Con that Max Landis was writing a fully-animated Pepé Le Pew feature film for Warner Bros.^[48] There has been no new information since then due to sexual assault allegations against Landis in 2017, and a report that the character has not yet been planned to appear in future Warner Bros. productions leaves the feature film in doubt.^[49]

Other unproduced films

In October 2010, Warner Bros. Pictures bought a pitch written by Kevin and Dan Hageman set in the Acme Corporation's warehouse and featuring the company's many devices in a way reminiscent of Amblin Entertainment's 80s films and the Men in Black franchise.^[50] The project never materialized.

In September 2012, it was announced that Jenny Slate was writing a feature reboot for the series. The film was being produced by David Katzenberg, Seth-Grahame Smith and David Heyman. By October 2014, the project was no longer in the works.^[51]

In 2020, Brian Lynch revealed that he had sold a script to Warner Bros. titled Varsity Bugs. The film was to follow the Looney Tunes as they learn that, due to an obscure clause in their Warner Bros. contracts, they have to work to get a high school diploma. In order to get qualified, the Tunes go back to school along with fellow contract players Batman and Keanu Reeves.^[52] The project never materialized.

Box office

See also

• Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies filmography
• Looney Tunes
• Merrie Melodies
• Looney Tunes Golden Collection
• List of Looney Tunes television series

References

Further reading

• Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies: A Complete Illustrated Guide to the Warner Bros. Cartoons, by Jerry Beck and Will Friedwald (1989), Henry Holt, ISBN 0-8050-0894-2
• Chuck Amuck : The Life and Times of an Animated Cartoonist by Chuck Jones, published by Farrar Straus & Giroux, ISBN 0-374-12348-9
• That's Not All, Folks! by Mel Blanc, Philip Bashe. Warner Books, ISBN 0-446-39089-5 (Softcover) ISBN 0-446-51244-3 (Hardcover)
• Of Mice and Magic: A History of American Animated Cartoons, Leonard Maltin, Revised Edition 1987, Plume ISBN 0-452-25993-2 (Softcover) ISBN 0-613-64753-X (Hardcover)

External links

• The Big Cartoon DataBase entry for Merrie Melodies Cartoons and for Looney Tunes Cartoons
• Golden Age Cartoons' The Ultimate Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies Website by Jon Cooke
• "Warner Brothers Cartoon Companion", a wealth of trivia about the Warner cartoons
• Official site

This page was last edited on 13 April 2024, at 03:03