Fighting corporate conglomerates is one thing, but winning against them is another altogether. Even so, Coyote Vs. Acme, the live-action/animation hybrid film that was saved from cancellation, has already won half the battle, dropping its first trailer after returning from the grave.
In it, Wile E. Coyote — whom fans will recognise as the archenemy of the Road Runner — seeks the help of billboard accident lawyer Kevin Avery, played by Saturday Night Live alum Will Forte, to file legal action against Acme Corporation following another accident involving the latter’s products. John Cena’s Buddy Crane serves as opposing counsel, declaring that Cotoye is “reckless”: “We all know who’s responsible, and all of his injuries are self-inflicted.”
Lana Condor (Alita: Battle Angel) joins Forte and Cena on the live-action front as Kevin’s niece Paige in the film, which is directed by Dave Green (Earth to Echo). Inspired by a 1990 The New Yorker article that imagines a legal case against Acme, Samy Burch’s screenplay brings together well-known characters from the Looney Tunes universe, including Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, and lesser-known ones, in the world of courtroom comedy.
It’s a much-deserved redemption for Coyote Vs. Acme, previously shelved by Warner Bros. as a tax write-off (boo!), despite a highly positive early reception. The cancellation drew attention and backlash because the film was already completed (it certainly helped that DC Studios co-head James Gunn has a story credit, too). As part of the same move, several other finished projects, such as Batgirl, were also scrapped.
In 2025, Ketchup Entertainment acquired the feature for a reported US$50 million, marking a comeback story for the ages. It hits the big screen on 28 August, almost three years after its initial planned debut.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
Kevin Low
