Coyote vs. Acme Finally Gets Theatrical Release Date

Blending the real world with animation, animatronics, and puppetry creates a combination that many viewers enjoy. This appeal drives the popularity of films like Who Framed Roger Rabbit, The Muppet Christmas Carol, and director Russell Chuck’s 1994 feature, The Mask.

Looney Tunes movies that blend live action with characters like Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck represent a specific subgenre. The most memorable entry remains the 1996 sports-comedy hybrid Space Jam, which paired Michael Jordan with aliens who wanted to turn the Looney Tunes characters into theme park slaves.

The last live-action Looney Tunes movie arrived in 2021 with the sequel Space Jam: A New Legacy. Now, an upcoming comedy from director Dave Green (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), featuring a story by Samy Burch, James Gunn, and Jeremy Slater, offers a new take on the franchise.

After delays and an attempted cancellation by Warner Bros. CEO David Zaslav, Coyote vs. Acme arrives in theaters soon.

What is the plot of Coyote vs. Acme?

Wile E. Coyote rarely manages to catch the Road Runner. This failure stems from Wile E. putting his faith in the products of the Acme Corporation, a fictional company known for rocket roller skates, anvils, and bombs.

Frustrated by his lack of success, Wile E. blames Acme and sues the company. He hires Kevin Avery, a human attorney played by Will Forte, to represent him. The court case pits them against Buddy Crane, Kevin’s former boss, portrayed by John Cena.

Confirmed Looney Tunes characters appearing in the film include Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Tweety Bird, and Foghorn Leghorn.

Is Coyote vs. Acme a sequel?

In the 2003 film Looney Tunes: Back in Action, Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck teamed up with Brendan Fraser as Brendan Fraser and D.J. Drake to battle the Acme Corporation, which planned to turn the world into monkeys and force everyone to create Acme products.

Despite featuring Wile E. Coyote and functioning as a comedy, Coyote vs. Acme takes a grounded approach with a focus on courtroom drama rather than the spy antics of Back in Action. Warner Bros. has not connected the two films given their differences in setting and tone.

What is the Coyote vs. Acme controversy?

In November 2023, Warner Bros. shelved several completed or in-development movies to take a $30 million tax write-off. Coyote vs. Acme, alongside Batgirl and Scoob! Holiday Haunt, was one of those films. This decision drew criticism from those involved in the production, prompting Warner Bros. to shop the film to other studios, including Netflix and Sony Pictures.

Ketchup Entertainment, the distributor that handled The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie, ultimately acquired and saved the film.

When is the Coyote vs. Acme release date?

With a runtime of 103 minutes, Coyote vs. Acme releases in theaters on August 28.

Source: Polygon