coyote vs. acme has a trailer at last, giving audiences a first look at the long-delayed live-action and animation hybrid before its theatrical debut on Aug. 28. The film follows Wile E. Coyote as he takes legal action against the Acme Corporation after years of failed products and repeated mishaps. Directed by Dave Green, the movie pairs Will Forte as Coyote’s attorney with John Cena as opposing counsel.
First Look at coyote vs. acme
The trailer places coyote vs. acme in a courtroom-comedy frame, with the story built around Wile E. Coyote’s case against Acme, Inc. The screenplay is by Samy Burch, and the film is described as drawing from a 1990 humor article that imagined a legal case against Acme. The footage also points to appearances from familiar Looney Tunes characters, including Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Sylvester, Tweety, and Foghorn Leghorn.
The film was originally developed for HBO Max and was completed with a reported budget of about $70 million before Warner Bros. opted not to move forward with its release in 2023. That decision came during a broader shift in distribution strategy under CEO David Zaslav and followed the cancellation of other completed projects, including Batgirl and Scoob! Holiday Haunt. coyote vs. acme was later acquired in 2025 by Ketchup Entertainment for a reported $50 million, putting it on course for a global theatrical rollout nearly three years after its planned debut.
What the Trailer Shows
The new footage centers on Wile E. Coyote hiring billboard accident lawyer Kevin Avery, played by Will Forte, to sue the Acme corporation over defective products. John Cena plays Buddy Crane, the slick corporate counsel standing on the other side of the case. The setup keeps the focus on the legal fight while folding in the broad physical comedy that has defined the character for decades.
The official description frames the story around Wile E. Coyote finally fighting back after a long history of being blown up, crushed, and otherwise defeated by Acme’s products. That description also makes clear the film is leaning into a contemporary legal setting while still using the Looney Tunes world as its backdrop. coyote vs. acme is being positioned as a theatrical event after a highly unusual path to release.
Why This Release Matters
The film’s road to theaters has made it one of the most closely watched studio reversals in recent memory. Warner Bros. had planned to scrap the completed movie as part of a $115 million write-down, and the shelving attempt drew strong attention because the project was already finished. Social media backlash helped keep the movie alive, and that pressure ultimately led to the acquisition that saved it.
Will Forte has said he remains proud of the finished film and hopeful that the unusual path to release will help it reach a wider audience. In a separate comment, he described his surprise and excitement at the film landing distribution, and he said he would promote it heavily once it reached theaters. coyote vs. acme now faces a clear test when it opens on Aug. 28, with its reception likely to show whether the long delay has helped or hurt its momentum.
What Happens Next
The next major step is the theatrical rollout on Aug. 28, when coyote vs. acme finally arrives in theaters after years of uncertainty. With the first trailer now public, the focus shifts to how audiences respond to a film that spent years in limbo and is now trying to turn that history into interest. For Warner Bros., the release also reopens a difficult chapter that coyote vs. acme has carried from the start.
