Live action and animation have produced some of cinema’s most enduring hybrids, from Who Framed Roger Rabbit and The Muppet Christmas Carol to The Mask. The formula also suits the anarchic energy of Looney Tunes, although films using those characters in this way remain relatively uncommon.
Space Jam remains the best-known example. The 1996 sports comedy placed basketball star Michael Jordan alongside the Looney Tunes characters as they faced aliens intent on turning them into attractions for a theme park. Its 2021 follow-up, Space Jam: A New Legacy, was received less warmly than the original.
Now, director Dave Green, known for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, brings a different kind of Looney Tunes adventure to cinemas. The story comes from Samy Burch, James Gunn and Jeremy Slater, and centres on one of animation’s most persistent losers: Wile E. Coyote.
What is Coyote vs. Acme about?
Wile E. Coyote’s repeated attempts to catch the Road Runner usually fail because of his dependence on Acme Corporation’s bizarre products. The fictional supplier is famous for selling gadgets such as rocket-powered roller skates, anvils and mail-order explosives.
After another run of failures, Wile E. decides that Acme is responsible and takes the company to court. He hires Kevin Avery, a human lawyer played by Will Forte, to handle the case. The opposing side is led by Buddy Crane, Kevin’s former boss, portrayed by John Cena.
The film also features several familiar Looney Tunes figures, including Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Tweety Bird and Foghorn Leghorn. Additional appearances may be present in smaller roles or brief cameos.
Is it connected to Looney Tunes: Back in Action?
The premise may sound familiar to viewers who remember Looney Tunes: Back in Action. In that 2003 film, Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck joined Brendan Fraser, playing himself, and D.J. Drake in a battle against Acme’s plan to transform the world into monkeys and force people to manufacture its products.
Coyote vs. Acme is not presented as a direct continuation, however. Although both stories involve Acme and share a comedic foundation, the newer film takes a more grounded approach, with its courtroom conflict replacing the earlier movie’s exaggerated spy-movie action. A connection between the two films therefore appears unlikely.
Why was Coyote vs. Acme nearly cancelled?
In November 2023, Warner Bros. chose to shelve several completed or developing films in exchange for a reported $30 million tax write-off. Coyote vs. Acme was among them, alongside Batgirl and Scoob! Holiday Haunt.
The decision caused considerable frustration among the people who made the film. Warner Bros. subsequently explored selling it to other studios, including Netflix and Sony Pictures, but its release remained uncertain.
Ketchup Entertainment eventually acquired the opportunity to bring the project to audiences. The distributor had also handled The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie, giving the shelved production a path back to cinemas.
When does Coyote vs. Acme release?
Coyote vs. Acme is scheduled to open on 28 August 2026. Its runtime is 103 minutes, or 1 hour and 43 minutes.
For readers planning a themed games room after the film, RETROCADE’s Arcade Blog covers arcade and gaming news, while the Arcade Machine Buying Guide can help with choosing a suitable cabinet. Compact setups can also be explored through bartop arcades.
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