The long-running saga of the infamously shelved live-action/animated hybrid film, Coyote vs. Acme, looks like it will finally see a happy ending with a global theatrical release in August 2026.
Announced by Will Forte during a panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2025, Coyote vs. Acme hits theaters on August 28, 2026.
Eric Bauza voices nine characters in the film, including Bugs Bunny, who acts as a deep throat type informant for Will Forte’s lawyer character. Animated cameos include Miss Prissy and a sheep on the jury, and Playboy Penguin carving ice sculptures as courtroom sketches.
Coyote vs. Acme, which stars big-name talent like John Cena and Lana Condor, was on the fast-track and even managed to finish filming in 2022. It was originally set for HBO Max and is said to follow the legendary Wile E. Coyote as he launches a legal battle against Acme due to its “countless faulty products.”
Things were looking good as director Dave Green pressed forward, but that all came to a halt in 2023 when Warner Bros. announced that, despite finishing the filming process, Coyote vs. Acme would no longer find its way to Max — or anywhere else — as the company pivoted to focus more on theatrical releases.
What resulted from its shelving was a campaign from audiences and filmmakers alike as movie enjoyers sought to see it released, not only to appreciate the film but the work that went into it, too. Then, in March, American film distribution company Ketchup Entertainment, which is responsible for handling the release of projects like The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie and Ferrari, signed a deal with Warner Bros. Pictures to bring Coyote vs. Acme to theaters.
Last year, IGN published an investigation into the Coyote vs. Acme rollercoaster, revealing the inside story from a voice actor who was at the front of the campaign to save it.
Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at [email protected] or confidentially at [email protected].
