Coyote vs. Acme Finally Gets a Theatrical Release — John Cena and Will Forte End Hollywood's Wildest Saga

The Looney Tunes Movie Everyone Thought Was Dead Is Coming to Theaters

After years of being shelved, un-shelved, and fought over behind closed doors, Coyote vs. Acme is finally getting a real theatrical release. The live-action/animated hybrid comedy, starring Will Forte and John Cena, will hit cinemas on August 28, 2026 through Ketchup Entertainment, in partnership with Warner Bros. Pictures.

The movie has one of the strangest Hollywood stories in recent memory. It was fully completed, then shelved for a tax write-off in a move that enraged fans and filmmakers alike. After backlash — including a campaign from Looney Tunes devotees — the film was reversed out of the vault, and now it's landing in theaters nearly everywhere. For everyone who followed the saga, this is a genuine, long-coming W.

What Is Coyote vs. Acme Actually About?

It's a courtroom comedy with a surreal premise: Wile E. Coyote, exhausted from a lifetime of Acme products backfiring in his face, decides to sue the Acme Corporation. His lawyer is a hapless human played by Will Forte, and standing across the courtroom is the slick corporate shark played by John Cena. Yes, Cena plays the suit who keeps the entire existence of Acme's junk catalog alive — and he's clearly having the time of his life doing it.

Directed by Dave Green, the movie also stars Lana Condor and Tone Bell, blending classic Looney Tunes slapstick with office comedy. Early reactions to the trailer have been overwhelmingly positive, with fans calling it the best thing WB has done with its classic animated history in years.

Why This Release Is Such a Big Deal

• It completes the most bizarre distribution story of the decade — shelved, revived, and now theatrically released
• Will Forte and John Cena are a comedy pairing nobody knew they needed
• Authentic Looney Tunes animated elements alongside live-action, mixed carefully
• August 28 lands it right in the late-summer box office window, an underserved stretch
• It's proof that audience campaigns can actually rescue completed movies

The release also carries symbolic weight for animation fans: after Batman: Knightfall proved the appetite for classic WB characters in new contexts, Coyote vs. Acme extends that momentum in live-action hybrid form.

The Bottom Line

Coyote vs. Acme is more than a comedy — it's the most improbable comeback of 2026. Whether you grew up with Wile E. and the Road Runner or you've just followed the drama, August 28 is your day to grab popcorn.