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If you went back to November 2023 and told “Coyote vs. Acme” director Dave Green that his Looney Toons legal comedy would make its debut at San Diego Comic-Con, he probably wouldn’t believe it. Of course, that’s largely
because that’s when Green learned the film had been shelved by Warner Bros. Discovery as a tax write off.
“For three years, I was lucky enough to make a movie about Wile E. Coyote, the most persistent, passionate, and resilient character of all time,” Green posted on X at the time after receiving the “devastating” news. “But in the spirit of Wile E. Coyote, resilience and persistence win the day.”
And win the day they did. Ketchup Entertainment ultimately rescued the film and set it for theatrical release on Aug. 28. “Coyote vs. Acme” — an animated/live-action hybrid about Wile E. Coyote taking on the Acme Corporation for intentionally releasing defective products — will get its first public screening on Saturday night at Comic-Con.
“I’ve waited so long to see their reaction. I feel like the years, to me, have [all led] up to tonight,” said Lana Condor, who stars in the film alongside Will Forte, John Cena and a bunch of Looney Tunes like Roadrunner, Tweety and Bugs Bunny. “I want so badly for them to love it, and I think they will. I’m so confident in that.”
The most enduring image of the campaign to save “Coyote vs. Acme” was a lone protester dressed as Wile E. Coyote, holding a picket sign that read “Release Me” outside Warner Bros. Studios in the pouring rain.
“We did a call to action, ‘Where are you? Reveal yourselves, we would love to invite you!'” Condor said. But Green confirmed the lone wolf never stepped forward. Still, the anonymous whistleblower’s legacy lives on as the “Coyote vs. Acme” team built one of his masks for last year’s Comic-Con panel.
“We figured out how his costume was built, and it was made out of paper!” Green said excitedly.
“Coyote vs. Acme” is heading to theaters while Warner Bros. is enduring yet another change of direction — this time, the impending merger with Paramount Skydance, which has many people in the industry on edge.
But while the wider implications of the Warner-Paramount merger remain to be seen (especially after the merger’s delay), for tonight, the entire “Coyote vs. Acme” cast and crew have much to celebrate.
“So many people stood up for a film they didn’t even see … which is exactly Wile’s entire journey throughout our entire film!” Condor said. “The reason that it’s going to come out at all, I firmly believe, is because of the fans. That was really incredible to experience. That’s why tonight, we’re so excited to screen it for the first time because this is what you fought for. I’m so confident that the fight was for a good reason.”
Watch the full conversation below.
