'Coyote vs. Acme' finally reaches cinemas after three years in Hollywood limbo

The Looney Tunes hybrid was completed in 2023 before Warner Bros shelved it, sparking a major backlash online.

Coyote vs. Acme is finally arriving in cinemas after one of the most unusual release journeys in recent Hollywood history. The live action and animation hybrid, starring John Cena, Will Forte and Lana Condor, reaches US theatres on August 28, 2026, after spending years caught in a corporate dispute over its future. Ketchup Entertainment is handling the theatrical release.

The film was originally developed at Warner Bros and completed before the studio decided against releasing it. In 2023, Warner Bros Discovery opted to shelve the movie as part of a tax write off strategy. The decision placed Coyote vs. Acme alongside other completed projects that were abandoned, including Batgirl and Scoob! Holiday Haunt. The move generated significant backlash from fans, filmmakers and people who had worked on the production.

The situation became especially striking because reports surrounding the movie suggested that it had performed well with test audiences. Rather than disappearing permanently, Coyote vs. Acme became the subject of a campaign calling for its release. That support eventually helped create an opportunity for another distributor to take over the film.

Ketchup Entertainment acquired worldwide distribution rights in 2025, with reports placing the deal in the region of $50m. The independent distributor subsequently gave the movie a theatrical release date and began a campaign that openly referenced its unusual history.

Directed by Dave Green, the film centres on Wile E. Coyote after years of disastrous attempts to catch the Road Runner using Acme products. Instead of another straightforward chase story, the film turns the cartoon character's long history of malfunctioning gadgets into a legal battle. Wile E. Coyote hires billboard lawyer Kevin Avery, played by Will Forte, to take Acme Corporation to court. John Cena plays corporate lawyer Buddy Crane, while Lana Condor stars as Paige Avery.

The screenplay comes from Samy Burch, with James Gunn and Jeremy Slater among those credited for the story. The movie also features classic Looney Tunes characters through animation and voice performances, including Daffy Duck, Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig, Foghorn Leghorn and Elmer Fudd.

The critical response has added another unexpected chapter to the movie's story. Rotten Tomatoes currently lists Coyote vs. Acme at 96% from critics, based on more than 90 reviews, giving the film a strong early reception ahead of its wide US release. The site's audience score has yet to be established through verified ratings.

The movie has also attracted attention because its real life journey mirrors its central character. Wile E. Coyote repeatedly survives spectacular disasters caused by his own Acme inventions, while the completed film itself survived a studio cancellation before finding another route to cinemas.

At 101 minutes, Coyote vs. Acme is rated PG and combines comedy, adventure, fantasy and animation. Its US theatrical release is scheduled for August 28, with Ketchup Entertainment distributing the film.

After years of uncertainty, the fate of Coyote vs. Acme is therefore no longer tied to an abandoned studio project. The film has secured its theatrical release, earned strong early reviews and finally gives audiences the chance to see the completed Looney Tunes adventure that spent years at risk of never reaching the big screen.