It’s the day Wile E. Coyote fans have been waiting for. The long-awaited, nearly nixed “Coyote vs. ACME” animated live-action film finally sets its sights on an August 28, 2026 theatrical release. The Dave Green-directed feature is based on the 1990 “The New Yorker” magazine article of the same name by columnist and humorist Ian Frazier, which also used elements from the popular “Looney Tunes” franchise.
In a new clip, audiences can now get a peek into what Will Forte has in store.
New Clip Promises Wild Antics
Fandango shared an exclusive clip on Twitter/X on August 6, 2026. The scene shows Coyote attending a high-profile meeting with billboard attorney Kevin Avery (Will Forte) and convincing him to represent him as he sues Acme Corporation over its allegedly defunct products. As fans already know, Coyote has been in the pursuit of the Road Runner, and nothing has worked to trap his nemesis.
Coyote reenacts an explosive encounter with the Road Runner with paper dolls, leaving Kevin Avery’s office covered in dust. Based on the clip, “Coyote vs Acme” promises to treat fans with the trusty old hijinks that made the original franchise so popular. The cast also includes Lana Condor (“To All the Boys”), Tone Bell (“Horror Noire”), John Cena (“The Suicide Squad”), Luis Guzmán (“Boogie Nights,” “Keanu”), Martha Kelly (“Baskets”) and P.J. Byrne (“The Wolf of Wall Street”).
‘Coyote vs Acme’ Nearly Shelved for Good
In 2023, “Coyote vs Acme” became marred in controversy when Warner Bros. Discovery revealed its release was canceled in favor of a $30 million tax write-off. The decision was met with swift and severe criticism from filmmakers, producers and other studios. Warner Bros. reversed the decision and put the film and the creative rights up for purchase. In the coming years, several studios, including Netflix, Paramount Pictures, Amazon and Sony Pictures, made various bids for the property.
Will Forte shared his thoughts on the film after watching the final cut. “I know that a lot of you haven’t gotten a chance to see our movie. And sadly, it’s looking like you never will,” he wrote in an open letter on Instagram in early 2024. “When I first heard that our movie was getting ‘deleted,’ I hadn’t seen it yet. So I was thinking what everyone else must have been thinking: this thing must be a hunk of junk. But then I saw it. And it’s incredible.”
A year later, Ketchup Entertainment began talks to acquire the film and closed the deal in March 2025. The film is “a perfect blend of nostalgia and modern storytelling, capturing the essence of the beloved Looney Tunes characters while introducing them to a new generation,” Ketchup CEO Gareth West told Deadline. “We believe it will resonate with both longtime fans and newcomers alike.”
“Coyote vs. Acme” debuted at San Diego Comic-Con in July. The film’s first trailer, released April 22, was viewed 25.6 million times in 24 hours, breaking records as the most-viewed trailer for an independent family film.
