RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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After several years in limbo, Coyote vs. Acme finally got its moment in the sun on Wednesday at its L.A. premiere.
It was a night that for a long time did not seem possible, after Warner Bros. Discovery shelved the film in November 2023 in favor of a tax write-off. Fans rallied around the project, though, refusing to let it die — until in March 2025, Ketchup Entertainment saved the film and set it up for a summer 2026 theatrical release.
Star Will Forte looks back at that period as "an emotional roller coaster," admitting that despite how vocal people were being online to revive the film, "I didn't think it would do anything." Related Stories TV Tom Colicchio Says 'Top Chef' Has Become as Important as a James Beard Award Movies 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' Hits No. 2 on All-Time Domestic Chart, Topping 'Avengers: Endgame'
"I was just like, 'They're not hearing you, it's not going to make a difference.' And then they just kept going and it's because of them the movie's out," Forte told The Hollywood Reporter on the carpet. "I had given up on it and I can't thank these people enough. I always thought this movie was super special and the support from the community has meant so much. It's made me feel sane; I felt gaslit for a while and their support, now the positive reviews coming out — [they] just make it feel like you're not crazy."
Coyote vs. Acme is a hybrid live-action and animation movie set in the Looney Tunes universe. It sees Wile E. Coyote deciding to sue the Acme Corporation after their products fail him one too many times in his relentless pursuit of the Roadrunner, with Forte as his inexperienced lawyer and John Cena as Acme's attorney. And as Forte mentioned, the film is being released amid glowing reviews and very positive audience buzz.
"It's so validating. I've been a part of a lot of projects that haven't gotten great reviews that I have loved — MacGruber . I love it. People may hate it, but I love it, I'm so proud of it," the actor said, noting that reviews are not everything but "in this case, I am accepting positive reviews and saying they do mean something, I'm doing a flip around."
He continued that much like Wile E. Coyote going up against a big corporation, the film itself is an underdog, "so we need all the help we can get, and it feels like all these voices, the voices that helped us get the movie into the theaters, are helping spread the word about it being in the theaters. Hopefully people will listen to them and see these positive views and go like, 'This movie deserves to be seen.'"
Cena echoed, "We're here, we're coming out in theaters, I just hope that everyone who used their voice shows up to see this thing."
That appreciation for the fans was clear at the event as well, as a costumed Wile E. Coyote character marched down the carpet with the UCLA marching band, carrying a sign that read "Absolute Cinema." It's a reference to a viral video of a fan who picketed outside of the Warner Bros. lot, in the rain, following the film's cancellation; the character also appeared inside the screening, with another sign that read, "Thank you fans."
"We feel so lucky," emphasized director Dave Green . "Every single person that spoke out and tweeted and wrote a message, and for our brave costumed Coyote who stood out in the rain, we're grateful for every single individual who was there for us."
The filmmaker also brushed off any initial sequel plans as "I've not thought beyond this day," but noted, "We made a movie that we thought was funny and worked for us and we internally thought was a blast. It's so validating and kind to see the audience responding."
Coyote vs. Acme, which also stars Lana Condor , Eric Bauza and Martha Kelly, hits theaters on Friday.
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