‘Coyote vs. Acme’ Trailer Finally Lands

First Glimpse: ‘Coyote vs. Acme’ Trailer Finally Lands Following Dramatic Rescue from the Vaults

BURBANK — In what is being hailed as a landmark victory for film preservation and animation fans alike, the first trailer for Coyote vs. Acme has been released, confirming that the "lost" Looney Tunes epic will finally see the light of day (trailer below).

The hybrid live-action and animation film, which spent years in a precarious legal limbo after being threatened with a permanent "tax write-down" deletion by Warner Bros. Discovery, has officially been rescued. The two-minute teaser, which debuted online on Wednesday afternoon, showcases a courtroom comedy that feels more Who Framed Roger Rabbit than a standard Saturday morning cartoon.

The ‘Lawsuit of the Century’

Based on the classic New Yorker humour piece by Ian Frazier, the film stars Will Forte as a down-on-his-luck lawyer who takes on Wile E. Coyote as a client. The premise is as absurd as it is inspired: the Coyote is suing the ACME Corporation for their defective products, which have caused him decades of physical and emotional trauma during his pursuit of the Road Runner.

John Cena co-stars as the slick, corporate defence attorney representing ACME, and the trailer highlights a comedic chemistry between him and Forte that insiders have been raving about for years.

“This isn't just a movie about a cartoon character,” director Dave Green noted during a brief social media Q&A following the trailer's launch. “It’s about the underdog finally standing up to the giant. It feels incredibly fitting that the film itself had to fight its own ‘ACME’ to be heard.”

A Near-Death Experience for Cinema

The release of the trailer marks the end of one of the most controversial chapters in modern Hollywood history. In late 2023 and throughout 2024, the film became the poster child for "shelf-taxing", the practice of studios deleting completed films to claim insurance or tax write-offs.

Following a massive public outcry from fans, animators, and high-profile filmmakers like Guillermo del Toro and Christopher Miller, the studio eventually paused the deletion. While specific details of the "rescue deal" remain confidential, industry reports suggest a partnership between Warner Bros. and a major streaming giant ensured the film’s theatrical and digital survival.

Coyote vs. Acme – Production Profile

‘Animation That Breathes’

Visually, the trailer has been lauded for its commitment to traditional-style 2D animation within a 3D space. Wile E. Coyote does not speak, maintaining his classic silent-comedy roots, while his expressions are handled with a level of squash-and-stretch fluidity that pays homage to the legendary Chuck Jones.

The trailer features several "classic ACME" mishaps, including a rocket-powered pogo stick and a portable hole, reimagined through a grounded, cinematic lens.

The Verdict

The reaction from the animation community has been one of overwhelming relief. “To see Wile E. finally get his day in court, after nearly being erased from existence himself is poetic,” said one lead animator who worked on the project.

As the trailer concludes with Cena’s character smugly asking, “Who would ever believe a coyote?”, the answer from the internet has been deafening: millions of people.

Coyote vs. Acme is slated for a global theatrical release in August 2026.