Coyote vs. Acme is the long-awaited Looney Tunes movie that brings Wile E. Coyote into the live-action world, with the famously unlucky character finally getting a chance to take his biggest nemesis to court. The film blends animation with live-action and expands the classic Road Runner gag into a full-fledged comedy.

The project has had an unusually turbulent journey to the big screen. Although the movie was completed years ago, it spent a long period caught up in studio uncertainty before another distributor stepped in to bring it back to life.

Now, with Coyote vs. Acme finally approaching its theatrical debut, here is everything to know about its release date, cast, where to watch it, and the story behind Wile E. Coyote’s long-awaited legal battle.

Coyote vs. Acme is scheduled to hit U.S. theaters on August 28, 2026. The film was originally completed in 2023 before Warner Bros. shelved it as part of a tax write-off strategy, despite the movie reportedly costing around $70 million to produce.

The decision sparked significant backlash from fans and people involved with the production. The film eventually found a second life when independent distributor Ketchup Entertainment acquired it from Warner Bros. for approximately $50 million, turning what had been one of Hollywood's most notorious shelved movies into a theatrical release.

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After everything the film has survived just to reach theaters, the next question is who is stepping into this unusually chaotic Looney Tunes world.

Will Forte leads the live-action cast as Kevin Avery, a down-on-his-luck lawyer who takes on Wile E. Coyote’s case. Lana Condor plays Paige Avery, while John Cena portrays Buddy Crane, the lawyer representing ACME; the fictional company in the Looney Tunes cartoons that supplies Wile E. Coyote with all his ridiculous gadgets and weapons to help him catch the Road Runner.

The animated cast includes Wile E. Coyote alongside familiar Looney Tunes favorites, with Eric Bauza lending his voice to several characters. Dave Green directs the film from a screenplay by Samy Burch, with James Gunn and Jeremy Slater also involved in the story.

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With that unusual combination of Hollywood stars and classic cartoon characters in place, it all comes down to the case that brings them together.

Coyote vs. Acme is set for an exclusive theatrical release on August 28, 2026. Ketchup Entertainment is handling its theatrical distribution, with no streaming release announced at this point.

The film takes Wile E. Coyote’s decades-long ACME disasters and gives them a legal twist. After yet another series of defective products causes chaos, Wile E. decides to sue ACME Corporation, turning to Kevin Avery for help. The case puts the coyote against Buddy Crane and forces the two lawyers into a battle over whether ACME can finally be held responsible for its products. The movie is based on Ian Frazier’s 1990 New Yorker piece “Coyote v. Acme” and uses a live-action/animation hybrid format reminiscent of Who Framed Roger Rabbit?.

There is also something fitting about the movie’s journey: Wile E. Coyote spends the story fighting a corporation, while the film itself had to fight its way through Hollywood to reach audiences. After years of setbacks and uncertainty, all that perseverance now appears to be paying off, with Coyote vs. Acme earning a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes. The unlikely comeback has finally given Wile E. Coyote the kind of win he has been chasing all along.

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After years of waiting, Wile E. Coyote is finally getting his day in court — and hopefully a big-screen adventure worth cheering for. Are you excited to see him finally take on ACME? Let us know in the comments!