Coyote vs. Acme, the long-delayed film Warner Bros. once tried to shelve, has released its first footage ahead of a planned summer theatrical debut.
The preview sets the tone quickly. Wile E. Coyote takes legal action against Acme after years of failed gadgets. He hires billboard accident lawyer Kevin Avery, played by Will Forte. Avery and his team go up against Acme’s polished corporate counsel, Buddy Crane, played by John Cena. The footage also features familiar Looney Tunes faces, including Sylvester, Tweety, and Foghorn Leghorn.
The trailer nods to the film’s turbulent history with a pointed tagline: “The Film Acme Didn’t Want You to See.”
A Controversial Decision Reversed
The project became a flashpoint in 2023 when Warner Bros. moved to scrap the completed film as part of a $115 million write-down. The decision sparked backlash across social media. The response helped revive the project, which was later acquired for distribution by Ketchup Entertainment.
The shelving attempt was one of the first major moves under CEO David Zaslav. It followed another high-profile cancellation, Batgirl. When Coyote vs. Acme hits theaters on Aug. 28, it will serve as a clear test of that strategy. The film was originally greenlit in December 2020 under a previous leadership team as a project for HBO Max.
Zaslav addressed the broader decision in an interview with The New York Times. “The question is, should we take certain of these movies and open them in the theater and spend another $30 or $40 million to promote them?” he said. “They were hard decisions. But when I look at the health of our company today, we needed to make those decisions. And it took real courage.”
Cast Reaction and Renewed Momentum
Will Forte said he never expected the film to reach audiences. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, he said, “I never thought the film would land distribution, so it just came out of nowhere, and I’m so thrilled. I’m so excited for people to see this movie. I’m gonna promote the crap out of it. Just tell me what you want me to do and I’ll go.”
His enthusiasm mirrors the film’s unlikely path back to theaters.
The Story: Coyote Fights Back
The official synopsis leans into decades of cartoon chaos. After years of explosions, crashes, and failed inventions, Wile E. Coyote takes action. He teams up with Kevin Avery to sue Acme, the company behind the defective products that fueled his misadventures.
The case pits him against Buddy Crane and Acme, a profit-driven conglomerate responsible for every mishap. For the first time, the Coyote is not chasing the Road Runner. He is seeking accountability.
