Entertainment news and discussion on TalkFuse.
‘Coyote vs. Acme’ Trailer: Meet the Underdogs Taking on the Might of Acme Corp.
Ketchup Entertainment has released the first full trailer for "Coyote vs. Acme", the Warner Bros. Discovery-produced Looney Tunes comedy that WBD chief executive David Zaslav notoriously tried to shelve entirely for a tax write-off in 2023. Following significant industry backlash over that decision, and a similar move affecting "Batgirl", Zaslav allowed the finished film to be sold on, and Ketchup Entertainment acquired the distribution rights in March 2025. The film's rocky path to release has made it something of a Hollywood cause célèbre, and the trailer suggests the finished product may vindicate that attention.
The two-minute trailer, premiering ahead of the film's first public screening at Comic Con on 25 July, shows Wile E. Coyote's endless failures to catch Road Runner being blamed on faulty Acme products, prompting him to sue the Acme Corporation with the help of a struggling attorney played by Will Forte, against the company's lawyer played by John Cena. The cast also includes Lana Condor, Tone Bell, P. J. Byrne, Martha Kelly and Luis Guzmán, alongside classic Looney Tunes characters such as Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig, Tweetie Pie and Foghorn Leghorn. Directed by Dave Green and written by Samy Burch from a story by Burch, James Gunn and Jeremy Slater, and produced by Gunn and Chris DeFaria, "Coyote vs. Acme" is set for release in cinemas on 28 August.
In short
- First trailer released for once-shelved "Coyote vs. Acme" film
- WBD's David Zaslav had tried to cancel it for tax purposes
- Coyote sues Acme Corp; stars Will Forte and John Cena
- Released in cinemas 28 August, after Ketchup Entertainment rescue
Explained simply
"Coyote vs. Acme" is a feature film that brings the classic Looney Tunes characters into a live-action comedy setting. The story follows Wile E. Coyote as he pursues a legal case against the Acme Corporation, claiming that faulty products sold by the company have sabotaged his efforts to catch Road Runner. To make his case, he enlists the help of a struggling lawyer, played by Will Forte.
The film's journey to release has been unusually contentious. In 2023, Warner Bros. Discovery chief executive David Zaslav attempted to shelve the finished movie entirely, planning to claim it as a business loss for tax purposes rather than release it to the public. The decision prompted significant backlash from industry figures and observers, particularly coming shortly after the company made a similar decision regarding another film called "Batgirl".
Following the controversy, Zaslav reversed course and allowed the film to be sold to another distributor. Ketchup Entertainment acquired the distribution rights in March 2025 and will handle the film's release. The comedy also features John Cena as Acme's lawyer, alongside actors including Lana Condor, Luis Guzmán and Martha Kelly, and appearances from other classic Looney Tunes characters, with a cinema release scheduled for 28 August.