Coyote vs. Acme to Hit Theaters in 2026

According to CinemaDrame news agency, Coyote vs. Acme, once shelved by Warner Bros., will now be released on August 28, 2026 by Ketchup Entertainment.

At the film’s Comic-Con panel, American comedian Paul Scheer jokingly said the movie shouldn’t be released: “I heard Warner Bros. wasn’t going to put it out—never heard of Warner Bros.! That was an Acme decision, and I say that for legal reasons. Ketchup is single-handedly saving Looney Tunes. Mr. Ketchup, hats off to you.”

Warner Bros. had shelved the $70 million project starring Will Forte and John Cena to take a tax write-off. However, Ketchup Entertainment acquired distribution rights for $50 million. The studio previously bought another shelved Looney Tunes film, The Day the Earth Blew Up, which grossed $15 million worldwide.

Coyote vs. Acme follows Wile E. Coyote as he hires a lawyer and sues the Acme Corporation after repeatedly failing to catch the Road Runner using their defective products. The lawsuit pits him against Acme’s former CEO, played by John Cena, but the two form an unlikely friendship and join forces to win the case. The film stars Will Forte, John Cena, and Lana Condor.

Actor P.J. Byrne entered the panel in character as Acme’s lawyer, Bill Pelicano, shouting “cease and desist!” and mockingly referring to Forte as “Farte.”

Later, Canadian voice actor Eric Bauza, as Bugs Bunny, answered the question of how Coyote vs. Acme differs from Space Jam: “This movie was made without AI or basketball players.”

The first clips from the film were screened at the event, showing Coyote’s traps failing to capture Road Runner. In another clip, Forte’s lawyer character defends Coyote in court against Pelicano’s team, including “Buddy Crane” played by John Cena.

Director Dave Green joined the project in late 2019, and co-wrote the Oscar-nominated screenplay with Samy Burch in 2020.

At one point, a fan asked Forte how it feels to be among legal icons like Jack McCoy (Law & Order) and Atticus Finch (To Kill a Mockingbird). He replied, “It’s nice to look down on them from up here.”
Coyote vs. Acme opens August 28, 2026.