Warner Bros. says Looney Tunes are headed back to theaters

Warner Bros. is signaling a renewed commitment to theatrical animation for one of its oldest franchises. At a Warner Bros. Pictures Animation open house in Burbank on May 12, Motion Picture Group co-chair and CEO Pam Abdy announced that the studio is bringing Looney Tunes back to movie theaters. The move comes years after Looney Tunes characters last appeared on the big screen in 2021's "Space Jam: A New Legacy," which grossed $163 million worldwide. Abdy's remarks at the event framed the announcement as part of an effort to reestablish the franchise's theatrical presence.

The Details

The announcement came during opening remarks at the studio's open house event, which was staged ahead of its presentation at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival. Abdy said the studio will use its Annecy platform to debut "Daffy Season," a Looney Tunes theatrical short centered on Daffy Duck. According to Abdy, the project is timed around Elmer Fudd's soccer obsession ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

"We're also thrilled to be unveiling at Annecy Daffy Season, a Looney Tunes theatrical short that reestablishes our commitment to bring Looney Tunes back to the big screen," Abdy said during the event.

The open house also featured updates on the studio's broader animated slate beyond the Looney Tunes franchise. Warner Bros. Pictures Animation president Bill Damaschke outlined the studio's theatrical ambitions, saying it is aiming for seven animated features to hit theaters across three years.

"Different looks, different styles, different tones — connected with what I hope will be heart, hope, humor and a scale that earns the big screen and remaining an artists-first community," Damaschke said in describing the planned slate.

The studio highlighted several additional upcoming animated titles currently in development. Those titles include "The Cat in the Hat," "Bad Fairies," "Margie Claus," and "The Lunar Chronicles."

The event follows a period of transition for the animation division. Warner Bros. Pictures Animation was formerly known as Warner Animation Group and was rebranded in 2024 after Damaschke joined the company in 2023.

Context

Looney Tunes characters last appeared on the big screen in 2021's "Space Jam: A New Legacy," which grossed $163 million worldwide, according to studio figures cited in the trade report. That film has been the characters' most recent theatrical outing.

Another Looney Tunes project, the completed feature film "Coyote vs. Acme," was previously scrapped by Warner Bros. Ketchup Entertainment later acquired the film. The distributor now plans to release "Coyote vs. Acme" in summer 2026, giving the completed project a theatrical home after its earlier shelving by the original studio.

Separately, Warner Bros. is developing an animated "Speedy Gonzales" feature directed by Jorge R. Gutiérrez, The Hollywood Reporter previously reported. That project was reported as part of the studio's broader animated feature development efforts.

What's Next

The studio's presentation at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival will include the debut of "Daffy Season." The short's release timing is directly connected to the lead-up to the 2026 World Cup, with Elmer Fudd's soccer-themed storyline aligning with the global soccer tournament. The Annecy unveiling will mark the first public showing of the project.

"Coyote vs. Acme" is slated for release in summer 2026 through Ketchup Entertainment, which acquired the completed film after Warner Bros. shelved it. That release will provide another theatrical Looney Tunes title within the same general timeframe.

Looking ahead, the studio is working toward releasing seven animated features over the coming three years as part of its expanded theatrical animation strategy. Damaschke's plan spans multiple visual styles and creative tones as the division builds out its slate under current leadership.