For a movie about Wile E. Coyote refusing to give up, the real-life story of Coyote vs. Acme feels almost too perfect. After being completed, shelved by Warner Bros. Discovery and caught in a Hollywood tax write-off controversy, the Looney Tunes comedy is finally reaching audiences.
Directed by Dave Green, the live-action/animation hybrid opens in U.S. theaters on August 28, 2026, with international markets expected around the same period. Inspired by Ian Frazier’s 1990 New Yorker humor piece “Coyote v. Acme,” the film stars Will Forte, John Cena and Lana Condor alongside Eric Bauza and other Looney Tunes voice performers.
More Nostalgic Returns: Long-awaited sequels are having a moment this year, and the Owens witches are getting their own comeback decades later. For more, check our article on Practical Magic 2 bringing Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman back to pass the torch to a new generation.
Coyote vs. Acme Turns Wile E. Coyote’s Cartoon Failures Into a Courtroom Battle
For generations, Wile E. Coyote has bought increasingly ridiculous Acme products in his pursuit of the Road Runner, only for those gadgets to spectacularly backfire. Coyote vs. Acme takes that classic gag and asks what happens when the coyote finally decides to fight back.
Voiced primarily by Eric Bauza, Wile E. Coyote hires struggling billboard lawyer Kevin Avery, played by Will Forte, and takes Acme Corporation to court. Among the infamous products connected to the story are the “Instant Tunnel” and “Do-It-Yourself Tornado Kit.”
John Cena plays Acme attorney Buddy Crane, while Lana Condor portrays Kevin’s niece and intern, Paige Avery. Tone Bell, Martha Kelly, P.J. Byrne and Luis Guzmán also appear, with Candi Milo and Jim Cummings among the additional Looney Tunes voice performers.
The movie runs approximately 101–103 minutes and carries a PG rating.
| Official Detail | Information |
| U.S. theatrical release | August 28, 2026 |
| Director | Dave Green |
| Wile E. Coyote | Eric Bauza |
| Kevin Avery | Will Forte |
| Buddy Crane | John Cena |
| Paige Avery | Lana Condor |
| Runtime | Approx. 101–103 minutes |
| Rating | PG |
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The Looney Tunes Comedy Has a Surprisingly Anti-Corporate Edge
Behind the slapstick is a bigger idea: corporate accountability. The CBC has highlighted the movie’s anti-capitalist streak, placing it within a broader cinematic tradition of films that challenge corporate power, including RoboCop, They Live, Fight Club, Michael Clayton, WALL-E, Sorry to Bother You and How to Blow Up a Pipeline.
In the film, Acme is no longer simply the source of Wile E. Coyote’s running jokes. The corporation becomes the target of his argument that repeatedly selling products that cause him physical suffering should have consequences.
That premise creates an almost unbelievable real-world parallel. A movie about an underdog taking on a huge corporation eventually found itself fighting for survival against one of Hollywood’s biggest studios.
More Action Comebacks: Corporate battles aside, plenty of familiar faces are returning to the action genre this year, including Jim Caviezel gearing up for his next mission. Read our post on Jim Caviezel’s return to action in Ghost Soldier for the trailer and full cast details.
Warner Bros. Completed the Movie — Then Decided Not to Release It
Coyote vs. Acme was produced for a reported $70–72 million, with principal photography taking place in Albuquerque, New Mexico, between March and May 2022. James Gunn and Chris DeFaria produced the movie, while Samy Burch wrote the screenplay from a story by Gunn, Jeremy Slater and Burch.
Originally developed during the WarnerMedia era as an HBO Max project, the film was later considered for theatrical release. A planned July 21, 2023 release was ultimately replaced by Barbie.
Then, in November 2023, Warner Bros. Discovery announced that it would not release the completed film.
The studio said:
“With the re-launch of Warner Bros. Pictures Animation in June, the studio has shifted its global strategy to focus on theatrical releases. With this new direction, we have made the difficult decision not to move forward with ‘Coyote vs. Acme.’ We have tremendous respect for the filmmakers, casts, and crew, and are grateful for their contributions to the film.”
Reports said Warner Bros. Discovery took an estimated $30 million tax write-down on the movie during broader cost-cutting and strategic changes under CEO David Zaslav following the WarnerMedia-Discovery merger.
Adding to the frustration, Coyote vs. Acme had reportedly tested strongly, scoring around 14 points above the average for family films.
More Casting Shakeups: Behind-the-scenes shakeups aren’t unique to Coyote vs. Acme’s saga either — Amazon’s God of War series just underwent a major recasting of its own. For more, our article on Dave Bautista stepping in as Kratos after Ryan Hurst’s exit covers what it means for the show’s future.
Dave Green and Will Forte Refused to Let the Story End There
Director Dave Green described the shelving decision as devastating after spending three years making the movie.
He said:
“For three years, I was lucky enough to make a movie about Wile E. Coyote, the most persistent, passionate, and resilient character of all time. I was surrounded by a brilliant team, who poured their souls into this project for years. We were all determined to honor the legacies of these historic characters and actually get them right. Along the ride, we were embraced by test audiences who rewarded us with fantastic scores. 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.”
Will Forte later revealed how painful the experience was, saying:
“They’re like, ‘No, they’re just shelving it for a tax write-off.’ And it was devastating.”
The cast and crew eventually watched the completed movie together in what Forte called a “funeral screening.” He described the film as:
“incredible… super funny throughout, visually stunning, sweet, sincere, and emotionally resonant.”
Forte also recalled feeling “Extreme frustration, fiery frustration, a lot of anger, white hot anger,” saying the decision “makes my blood boil” because:
“it is such a delightful movie. It deserves so much better than it got.”
He credited fans who “made so much noise and wouldn’t give up.”
More Casting Shakeups: Behind-the-scenes shakeups aren’t unique to Coyote vs. Acme’s saga either — Amazon’s God of War series just underwent a major recasting of its own. For more, our article on Dave Bautista stepping in as Kratos after Ryan Hurst’s exit covers what it means for the show’s future.
Ketchup Entertainment Finally Gave the Shelved Movie a Second Life
After discussions with streamers and other buyers stalled, Warner Bros. eventually allowed the film to seek another distributor. Reports at one point suggested the studio wanted approximately $75–80 million for the movie.
In March 2025, independent distributor Ketchup Entertainment acquired worldwide rights for a reported figure in the $50 million range.
Ketchup CEO Gareth West said:
“We’re thrilled to have made a deal with Warner Bros. Pictures to bring this film to audiences worldwide. Coyote vs. Acme is a perfect blend of nostalgia and modern storytelling, capturing the essence of the beloved Looney Tunes characters while introducing them to a new generation. We believe it will resonate with both longtime fans and newcomers alike.”
Ketchup had previously handled theatrical distribution for The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie.
The rescue turned a completed movie with no release into one of Hollywood’s strangest comeback stories.
More Reality-Bending Adventures: Wile E. Coyote’s cartoon world colliding with the courtroom has a fun cousin in another franchise blurring the line between fiction and reality. Our story on the Jumanji: Open World trailer and the reboot trilogy’s final chapter shows just how wild that premise gets.
Coyote vs. Acme Now Has Its Biggest Test Yet: Theaters
The film screened at San Diego Comic-Con on July 25, 2026, before its theatrical launch. It is receiving a theatrical-only release at launch, with no streaming date announced.
Early reception has been notably strong, with the movie reportedly sitting in the mid-90s percentage range on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics have praised it as one of the stronger live-action/animation hybrids since Who Framed Roger Rabbit.
Box-office tracking has placed its opening-weekend prospects in the mid-teens of millions of dollars in some reports.
After surviving years of uncertainty, Coyote vs. Acme is finally arriving on August 28, 2026. Wile E. Coyote may have spent decades losing battles against Acme, but this time, the famously persistent character has finally made it to court — and his movie has finally made it to the big screen.
Ebenezer: Coyote vs. Acme proves an unlikely underdog story can win out, and Ti West is putting his own twist on an unlikely genre mashup this holiday season. Check our article on Ti West’s Ebenezer trailer and Johnny Depp’s Scrooge for a first look at this ghostly nightmare.
Disclaimer
This article is based on a thorough review of the information provided, official film materials and published reporting from the sources listed below. Details concerning production costs, tax write-offs, testing results, acquisition price, box-office projections and critical scores are based on reported figures and may change as additional information becomes available. Coyote vs. Acme is a fictional live-action/animation comedy inspired by the Looney Tunes characters and Ian Frazier’s 1990 New Yorker humor piece “Coyote v. Acme.” This article does not represent Warner Bros. Discovery, Ketchup Entertainment, the filmmakers or the cast.
Sources
- Deadline — Coyote vs. Acme Shelving / Review Coverage
- Variety — Coyote vs. Acme Shelving / Funeral Screening Coverage
- Variety — Coyote vs. Acme Release-Date Coverage
- The Hollywood Reporter — Coyote vs. Acme Shelving / Review Details
- AP News — Ketchup Entertainment Acquisition
- Official Coyote vs. Acme Website
- Wikipedia — Coyote vs. Acme Production and Release History
Featured Image Credit: Ketchup Entertainment
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