Looney Tunes Up for Sale? Warner Bros. Might Be Ready to Say ‘That’s All, Folks!’

Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and Wile E. Coyote might be shopping for a new corporate warren. According to a report from Yahoo Entertainment, Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) is considering selling the entire Looney Tunes brand—a move that would’ve sounded unthinkable just a few years ago. But after years of media bloodletting, shelved projects, streaming purges, and fan outrage, it’s starting to feel like WBD’s once-iconic animation crown jewel might be headed for the auction block.

Here’s what we know so far about the possible sale, what led up to it, and why it has fans both hopeful and horrified.

The Report That Started It All

Yahoo Entertainment dropped the story on March 20, citing veteran scoop-machine Jeff Sneider’s The InSneider newsletter. Sneider claims WBD might be looking to offload the Looney Tunes IP entirely—especially after offloading Coyote vs. Acme to indie distributor Ketchup Entertainment. That deal followed a similar handoff of The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie to the same distributor.

WBD hasn’t confirmed the rumor, but the timing—and recent moves—make it look less like smoke and more like fire.

A Quick Recap: The Day the Earth Blew Up

Premiering March 14, 2025, this fully animated feature brought Daffy and Porky back to the big screen in a sci-fi comedy about alien mind control and bubble gum. Directed by Pete Browngardt and voiced by Eric Bauza (both characters), it was originally planned for Max and Cartoon Network until WBD’s corporate axe started swinging in 2022.

Ketchup Entertainment snagged North American rights in 2024 and premiered it at the Annecy festival before a quiet December 2024 release and a wider theatrical push this month. Despite a shoestring marketing budget, it’s pulling decent numbers:

• 87% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 83 reviews

• $6.9 million box office worldwide on a $15 million budget

Fans on X are calling it a small win that could keep Looney Tunes alive—barely.

Coyote vs. Acme: The Zombie Movie That Won’t Die

This live-action/animation hybrid starring Will Forte, John Cena, and Lana Condor was supposed to be a hit. Instead, it got shelved in 2023 for a $30 million tax write-off—sparking industry-wide fury. After massive backlash, WBD let the filmmakers shop it around… but crickets.

Now? There’s hope. On March 19, The Hollywood Reporter said Ketchup Entertainment is negotiating a $50 million deal for the film, with a theatrical release in 2026 on the table.

Test screenings reportedly scored in the high 90s, and even Eric Bauza hinted that the success of The Day the Earth Blew Up could influence its release:

“If this movie gets a lot of money, then we might see Coyote vs. Acme.”

That’s not confirmation, but it’s a glimmer.

Tubi to the Rescue (Sort Of)

While WBD yanked classic Looney Tunes shorts from Max, they left behind scraps like Baby Looney Tunes and Tiny Toons Looniversity. Enter Tubi, the ad-supported streaming underdog.

Starting April 1, it’ll host The Looney Tunes Show (2011–2013) and The Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries (1995–2000), both previously MIA after Max’s purge. It’s not everything fans wanted—but it’s something.

Users on X have called it “a small mercy,” even if it doesn’t bring back the heavy-hitters.

Fact-Checking the Sale Rumor

• Is it confirmed? Nope. Sneider has a solid track record, but without WBD confirmation, it’s still a rumor.

• Does it add up? Maybe. Selling The Day the Earth Blew Up and Coyote vs. Acme shows a pattern of divesting Looney Tunes content. The Max purge supports this.

• Counterpoint: A Puck article in 2024 said WBD’s new animation boss, Bill Damaschke, had a 2028 Looney Tunes roadmap. So unless that changed, a full sale seems premature.

WBD’s Bigger Picture: Animation Isn’t a Priority

Since the 2022 merger, David Zaslav’s cost-cutting crusade has led to:

• Canceling completed films (RIP Batgirl)

• Killing off legacy brands (Rooster Teeth)

• Gutting Max’s kids content library

Looney Tunes, once the beating heart of Warner animation, doesn’t fit Zaslav’s adult-leaning streaming vision. Yet some projects, like Wacky World of Sports (2024) and Bye Bye Bunny: A Looney Tunes Musical (still in development), suggest WBD isn’t ready to ditch Bugs just yet.

As of March 22, 2025: Where Things Stand

• No official Looney Tunes sale announced.

• The Day the Earth Blew Up is in theaters and doing okay.

• Coyote vs. Acme is on the verge of resurrection.

• Tubi’s hosting some Looney spinoffs starting in April.

• Classic shorts? Still missing from Max.

Fans are split. Some see a lifeline. Others see another Warner Bros. anvil hanging by a thread. The hashtag #SaveLooneyTunes is still going strong, and industry insiders are watching every move WBD makes.

What’s Next?

If Ketchup locks down Coyote vs. Acme, we might see a new era of indie-distributed Looney Tunes movies—a bizarre twist, but better than another vault burial. Tubi could pick up more titles. WBD might finally speak up. Or they might not.

In the meantime, catch The Day the Earth Blew Up while it’s still in theaters. Set a Tubi alert for April. And pray Bugs Bunny doesn’t end up as IP roadkill.

Weigh In: Would You Buy Looney Tunes If Warner Won’t?
Does Warner Bros. selling Bugs Bunny feel like heresy, or is it time to pass the carrot? Will indie studios keep the Looney flame alive—or will corporate misfires send it to the ACME vault? Drop your thoughts below or ping us on X @DREZZEDNews—I’m here to deliver the facts and hear your unfiltered take on this animated upheaval

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News compiled by Derek Gibbs and Edgar B.
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