Coyote vs. ACME trailer plays like a hate letter to Warner Bros

Image: Warner Bros/Ketchup Entertainment

The long-awaited trailer for Coyote vs. ACME has finally arrived, and it is nothing short of spectacular. The footage opens with a nostalgic nod to Chuck Jones’ classic shorts, featuring Wile E. Coyote strapping on a pair of ill-fated ACME rocket skates to pursue his nemesis. The scene quickly shifts to Will Forte, who portrays a scrappy underdog attorney specializing in litigating against the corporate behemoth known as ACME. His latest client? None other than Wile E. Coyote, who isn’t just looking for a payout—he is ready to dismantle the giant once and for all.

Teeming with iconic Looney Tunes charm and slapstick absurdity, the trailer serves as a love letter to the brand. Even more delicious is the meta-commentary embedded in the script; the film takes pointed aim at the very studio that commissioned, scrapped, and eventually offloaded it, making it abundantly clear that ACME serves as a stinging satire of Warner Bros. itself.

Image: Ketchup Entertainment

Directed by Dave Green and inspired by Ian Frazier’s satirical New Yorker piece, the project began its journey in 2018. Despite navigating various changes in creative leadership and a production cycle that wrapped in 2022, the film’s momentum hit a brick wall. In a controversial move in November 2023, Warner Bros. Discovery announced that the completed $70 million feature would be shelved entirely as a $30 million tax write-off, effectively burying the work of its cast and crew.

The backlash was instantaneous and fierce. Fans, bolstered by industry figures, launched petitions and even staged protests—including one memorable picket line featuring a fan dressed as the Coyote himself. Following intense public outcry, the studio pivoted, offering the film to other distributors. However, they reportedly blocked deals with major streamers like Netflix and Amazon, demanding a price point that hindered the movie’s survival.

Image: Ketchup Entertainment

After nearly a year in purgatory, a savior emerged in March 2025. Ketchup Entertainment, fresh off their success with The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie, secured the rights for $50 million, finally clearing the path for an August 28, 2026, release.

The creators clearly aren’t holding back. The trailer features a cynical wink at the audience: following an explosion, the screen cuts to a title card revealing that the studio is a “wholly owned subsidiary of the ACME Corporation.” It frames the film as “The movie ACME doesn’t want you to see,” complete with a lightning-fast disclaimer voiced by Foghorn Leghorn: “The ACME corporation is releasing this film for accounting purposes only. We do not condone any of the storylines depicted.”

Image: Ketchup Entertainment

These jabs serve as a testament to the turbulent behind-the-scenes battle. As Will Forte’s character remarks, “These companies think they can do whatever they want! We’re sick of it!” That line, once perhaps a standard plot point, now resonates as a profound, real-world manifesto for the entire production.

Coyote vs. ACME arrives in theaters on August 28, 2026.

Source: Polygon