The first trailer for the live-action/animated hybrid film Coyote vs. Acme was released on Tuesday. The film is scheduled for a theatrical release on August 28, 2026.
Background and Distribution History
The project was originally developed by Warner Bros. as a production for HBO Max, approved by the studio's previous leadership in December 2020. In 2023, Warner Bros. Discovery planned to shelve the completed film as a financial write-down, a decision similar to the treatment of the completed film Batgirl.
Following social media reaction to the shelving announcement, Ketchup Entertainment acquired the worldwide rights to the film in 2024.
Plot and Cast
The story, based on Ian Frazier's 1990 humor article "Coyote v. Acme" published in The New Yorker, follows Wile E. Coyote hiring a lawyer to sue the Acme Corporation for its defective products.
Key cast members include:
- Will Forte as Kevin Avery, a billboard accident lawyer representing Wile E. Coyote
- John Cena as Buddy Crane, corporate counsel for Acme
- Lana Condor
- P.J. Byrne
- Tone Bell
- Martha Kelly
- Luis Guzmán
Additional Looney Tunes characters appearing include Sylvester, Tweety, and Foghorn Leghorn.
Production Team
- Director: Dave Green
- Screenplay: Samy Burch
- Story: Samy Burch, James Gunn, and Jeremy Slater
- Producers: James Gunn and Chris deFaria
Industry Context
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav stated to The New York Times that decisions to shelve certain films were difficult but were made for the company's financial health, citing additional costs required for theatrical promotion.
Actor Will Forte told The Hollywood Reporter he was surprised the film found distribution and expressed enthusiasm for promoting it.