After years of uncertainty, Coyote vs. Acme is finally set to reach movie theaters. The live-action/animated hybrid comedy starring Will Forte and John Cena will be released theatrically on August 28 through Ketchup Entertainment, in partnership with Warner Bros. Pictures. The release marks the conclusion of one of Hollywood’s most unusual distribution stories, with a completed studio film narrowly avoiding cancellation before securing a worldwide theatrical rollout.
The journey to the big screen has been anything but straightforward. Directed by Dave Green (Earth to Echo) and co-written by Samy Burch alongside James Gunn, Coyote vs. Acme was completed in 2022 with an estimated production budget of $70 million. The film was initially developed as a direct-to-streaming release for HBO Max before Warner Bros. Discovery changed course during a broader cost-cutting initiative.
In late 2023, Warner Bros. Discovery decided not to release the finished film and instead sought an estimated $30 million tax write-off. The decision placed Coyote vs. Acme alongside other completed or near-completed projects, including Batgirl and Scoob! Holiday Haunt, that were cancelled before reaching audiences. News that the film would remain unreleased prompted widespread criticism from filmmakers, animation artists, cast members and movie fans, particularly after reports suggested that test screenings had received strong audience reactions.
Following the public response, Warner Bros. allowed the filmmakers to seek another distributor. After months of negotiations, Ketchup Entertainment acquired the worldwide distribution rights in a deal reportedly valued at around $50 million. The independent distributor had previously handled the theatrical release of Warner Bros. Animation’s The Day the Earth Blew Up, making Coyote vs. Acme its second major Looney Tunes collaboration. The agreement ensured that the completed film would receive a full theatrical release rather than remaining unreleased.
Based on the long-running Looney Tunes characters, Coyote vs. Acme blends live action with traditional animation in a courtroom comedy. After years of failed attempts to catch the Road Runner using malfunctioning Acme products, Wile E. Coyote decides to sue the Acme Corporation. To take on the powerful company, he hires an underachieving billboard lawyer, played by Will Forte, while John Cena stars as Acme’s confident corporate attorney.
The supporting cast includes Lana Condor, Tone Bell, Martha Kelly, and P.J. Byrne, while veteran voice actor Eric Bauza voices several iconic Looney Tunes characters, including Bugs Bunny. Familiar faces such as Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, and Foghorn Leghorn also appear throughout the film.
The release of Coyote vs. Acme has become notable not only because of its cast and premise but also because of the circumstances surrounding its distribution. The film’s eventual theatrical release follows months of industry debate over the fate of completed productions and the impact of corporate cost-cutting measures on original filmmaking. Its journey from cancellation plans to a confirmed theatrical debut has made it one of the most closely watched release stories of recent years.
With an August 28 release date now confirmed, audiences will finally have the opportunity to see a film that many believed would never reach theaters. For Warner Bros., Ketchup Entertainment and the creative team behind the project, Coyote vs. Acme now moves from being one of Hollywood’s most discussed unreleased films to one of the summer’s most anticipated theatrical releases.
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