There hasn’t been quite a comeback story like the ones seen in Warner Bros.’ scrapped animation projects, and specifically, Coyote vs. Acme. David Zaslav’s handling of Warner Bros. Discovery led to a myriad of projects being shelved and written off for tax purposes, seemingly erasing the hard work of hundreds of industry workers and artists. Coyote vs. Acme was one such film that seemed like it would never get released, a live-action animated hybrid comecy directed by Dave Green (Earth to Echo). As it turns out, the story of Wile E. Coyote’s indomitable spirit wouldn’t be so easy to hide away forever!
Following the news that Coyote vs. Acme was set to be shelved and never see a theatrical or digital release, support for the movie skyrocketed. Online petitions, social media campaigns, and extensive coverage of the film’s cancellation, which had already been essentially completed, would ultimately save the movie. Ketchup Entertainment, the same distribution company that saved The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie (2025), eventually also acquired Coyote vs. Acme. A little over two years after the Looney Tunes project was initially shelved, it now has a panel at San Diego Comic Con 2025.
Exclusive Footage Descriptions from SDCC
Described as a live-action/animated legal comedy, Coyote vs. Acme tells the story of down-on-his-luck billboard attorney Kevin Avery (Will Forte, Saturday Night Live), who finds a new purpose when he represents Wile E. Coyote in a lawsuit against the Acme corporation after years of their products backfiring on the toon in his pursuit of the Road Runner. At the Hall H Panel at SDCC 2025, the official, long-awaited release date for the film was revealed: Coyote vs. Acme is hitting theaters on August 28, 2026. Along with the release date, thousands of fans inside Hall H got to see the first-ever footage of the movie.
The first exclusive footage seen by public audiences showcases Wile E. Coyote discovering Kevin Avery’s (Forte) Law Firm through a hilarious TV commercial. Before that though, the scene opens with Wile E. Coyote staring at blueprints for what is undoubtedly his latest scheme. A montage of classic Looney Tunes shorts begins to play in his mind, showcasing his countless failures with Acme products. It’s all set to the tune of Johnny Cash’s “Hurt.”
Will Forte Faces Off Against John Cena
It’s after this that Wile E. sees the commercial for Avery’s law firm, which also includes his lawyer partner played by To All the Boys star Lana Condor. The most crucial part is that the commercial perfectly describes how Acme products have harmed the Coyote. It’s undoubtedly this commercial that helps set Wile E. on his path to seeking damages from the Acme corporation, setting the zany plot into motion. Set entirely in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Coyote vs. Acme perfectly matches the Southwestern backdrop of the iconic Coyote and Road Runner cartoons.
Another scene shown to Hall H attendees featured the first courtroom scene in the movie (this is a legal comedy film, after all). In it, audiences are introduced to John Cena‘s character Buddy Crane, the Acme corporation’s lawyer, who makes Kevin Avery and Coyote look like fools in front of the jury. Buddy Crane is all about American patriotism and freedom, with the jury comedically buying into his shtick.
courtesy of Ketchup Entertainment
Forte’s character Avery tries to make his own opening statement, but it backfires (quite literally) when Wile E. makes him take out an animated rocket skate from his box of evidence to prove its a failed Acme product. The rocket skate ends up burning Wile E.’s face and it causes chaos in the courtroom The jury and courtroom are filled with deep-cut Looney Tunes cameos, with the characters simply existing in the real world. Animated toons like Miss Prissy the mother hen are in the jury, and even another character, Playboy Penguin, is in the courtroom. He is seen carving out a beautiful and overexaggerated ice sculpture of John Cena’s face next to the human courtroom sketch artist.
A Courtoom Twist on Classic Looney Tunes Antics
Another cast member revealed in the footage is chatacter actor Luis Guzmán, the judge presiding over the case, who decides to use a large animated cartoon mallet since the plaintiff is a Looney Tune. The six minutes of footage conclude with a defeated Avery in his rundown motel room receiving a mysterious phone call from Bugs Bunny (voiced by Eric Bauza), who steps forward as an anonymous whistleblower. With new (cryptic) information from Bugs that can take down Acme, Avery sets out to find new evidence.
Courtesy of Ketchup Entertainment
Given the premise of the movie is about a “little guy” like Wile E. fighting a giant company like Acme, it’s hard not to see the real-life parallels with the actual filmmakers fighting to get the feature film released. Will Forte proudly stated that the fans are the “underdogs” who fought a major corporation to get this passion project released. Forte and everyone on stage for the SDCC Hall H panel even jokingly referred to Warner Bros. as “Acme” throughout, for legal reasons.
Hall H was Also Treated to the First Trailer of Coyote vs. Acme
The panel concluded with the film’s first ever trailer, which won’t be made public for some time. After picking up from the initial footage of Wile E. discovering Kevin Avery’s law firm, we get a montage showcasing what other absurd antics Coyote vs. Acme has in store. The animated Foghorn Leghorn is revealed to be the head of Acme’s cartoon products division, serving as John Cena’s boss. More toons, like Daffy Duck, Granny, and Dr. Lorre are teased as whistleblowers that Will Forte has to track down in the Acme trail.
There is a quick shot of John Cena’s Buddy Crane choking out Tweedy Bird with one hand. In a cute nod, Forte and the gang drive around in an old, beat-up car that has “That’s All Folks!” written on heavy dust on the back window. The 2D/3D animation for all the Looney Tunes also blends in quite smoothly with the live-action environments. Moreover, action set pieces like Wile E. Coyote on top of an oil rig during a chase sequence look especially riveting for an animated hybrid production.
Coyote vs. Acme hits theaters on August 28, 2026!
Release Date: August 28, 2026.
Directed by Dave Green.
Based on Looney Tunes by Warner Bros and Coyote v. Acme by Ian Frazier.
Written by Sammy Burch.
Produced by James Gunn and Chris DeFaria.
Executive Producers: Pete Browngardt, Ronnie Exley, Sean Krajewski, Sam Register, Jeremy Ross, & Mark Williams.
Main Cast: Will Forte, John Cena, Lana Condor, P. J. Byrne, Tone Bell, Martha Kelly, and Eric Bauza.
Composer: Steven Price.
Production Company: Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures Animation, Two Monkeys, A Goat and Another, Dead Monkey.
Distributor: Ketchup Entertainment.
