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Coyote vs. Acme 2026
Children's animatedChildren's comedyLegal
Coyote vs. Acme is a 2026 American legal comedy film directed by Dave Green and written by Samy Burch, who developed the story with James Gunn and Jeremy Slater. Based on the 1990 The New Yorker magazine article "Coyote v. Acme" by Ian Frazier (which incorporated elements from the Looney Tunes franchise), it features Wile E. Coyote hiring a billboard attorney to sue the Acme Corporation for repeatedly providing him with defective merchandise. The movie, which merges live action and animation, includes Will Forte, Lana Condor, Tone Bell, Luis Guzmán, Martha Kelly, P. J. Byrne, Kenneth Choi, and John Cena, with Eric Bauza providing the voice work.
Work on the project started in 2015 when James Gunn presented it to Warner Bros., leading to Jeremy Slater creating an early version of the screenplay. In 2018, Chris McKay was brought on as producer and Jon and Josh Silberman joined as screenwriters. Dave Green was selected to direct in December 2019, with screenwriter Samy Burch joining the next year. Cena, Forte, and Condor were cast early in 2022. Principal photography occurred in New Mexico from March through May 2022. The film was produced by Warner Animation Group, Keylight Pictures, and Gunn’s production company Troll Court Entertainment.
Warner Bros. Discovery initially delayed Coyote vs. Acme in November 2023 to secure a tax write-off but later changed its mind and permitted the filmmakers to find alternate distributors after public criticism. After multiple unsuccessful attempts to sell the film, Ketchup Entertainment purchased the rights for $50 million in March 2025, having previously handled distribution for Warner Bros. Animation's Looney Tunes film The Day the Earth Blew Up (2024).
Coyote vs. Acme premiered at San Diego Comic-Con on July 25, 2026 and opened in theaters across the United States on August 28, 2026. Critics responded favorably, and it earned $120 million globally against a production budget of $70–72 million.
Trailer
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Cast
- Will ForteKevin Avery
- Lana CondorPaige Avery
- John CenaBuddy Crane
- Tone BellSal Maltese
- Martha KellyDottie Jones
- Luis GuzmánJudge Troppogrosso
- P. J. ByrneBill Pelicanos
- John Early (comedian)Henry Heslop
- Nancy Linehan CharlesCherry
- Kenneth ChoiOscar Jeon
- Ernie VigilTalon
- Eric Bauza
- Candi Milo
- Granny (Looney Tunes)
- Jim Cummingsthe [[Tasmanian Devil
Crew
- Director
- Dave Green
- Screenplay
- Samy Burch
- Story
- James Gunn, Jeremy Slater, Samy Burch
- Producer
- Christopher DeFaria, James Gunn
- Cinematography
- Brandon Trost
- Editing
- Carsten Kurpanek
- Music
- Steven Price
Details
- Production
- Keylight Pictures, Troll Court Entertainment, Warner Animation Group
- Distributor
- Ketchup Entertainment
- Budget
- $70–72 million
- Box office
- $120 million
