COYOTE VS. ACME Aims to Dive Deep Into Wile E. Coyote’s Soul, Plus a New Look at the Long-Awaited Movie
After years of uncertainty, the long delayed comedy Coyote Vs. Acme is officially headed to theaters in 2026. The movie was shelved in 2023 for a tax write off by Warner Bros., which sparked huge backlash across the entertainment world.
Now the live action animation project has a new home and audiences will get the chance to see what insiders have described as a very funny legal showdown between Wile E. Coyote and the Acme Corporation. A new image from the film has also been released, giving fans another tease of what is coming.
Director Dave Green says the film digs into the character in a way audiences might not expect. “When we grew up watching him, there’s something kind of villainous about him,” he tells Empire. “We want to pop that myth and get into his soul and show you what really makes him tick.”
Green promises that the approach is “very laugh out loud funny” and designed to make viewers root for the long suffering desert dweller.
“[Wile E.] has been absolutely maligned for 80 years. He’s been blown up. He’s been smashed by anvils and just completely mistreated by the Acme Corporation,” he reasons. “And the more you read this piece, the more you laugh, and you also realise that Wile E. has a really great case here.”
The fight to get Coyote Vs. Acme released has been dramatic in its own right and strangely fitting for a character known for endless uphill battles.
Green reflects on that journey. “Making a movie is like pushing a boulder up a hill,” he says. “It’s what Wile E. does every day. The idea that I get to be here talking to you today, it feels absolutely surreal at this point.”
After decades of gags involving rockets, falling anvils and exploding gadgets, Coyote Vs. Acme is ready to explore the emotional core of this animated icon while delivering plenty of comedy along the way.
Fans have waited a long time to see Wile E. finally take his grievances to court, and 2026 is shaping up to be a fun moment for anyone who has ever rooted for the determined underdog.
Will Forte stars in the film as Wile E. Coyote's lawyer in the story and and John Cena stars as the CEO of Acme.
