Coyote vs ACME

Wile E. Coyote has had enough. After 75 years of Acme products backfiring in spectacular fashion during his relentless pursuit of the Road Runner, the hungry predator decides to take legal action. He hires Kevin Avery (Will Forte), a down-on-his-luck billboard attorney, to sue the Acme Corporation for negligence and faulty merchandise. This live-action/animation hybrid blends comedy, courtroom drama, and Looney Tunes chaos. Directed by Dave Green, the film also stars Lana Condor as Kevin's daughter Paige, John Cena as Buddy Crane, a slick corporate lawyer representing Acme, and Eric Bauza voicing multiple classic characters including Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck.

The film's journey to the screen has been as eventful as its plot. Completed in 2023, it was initially shelved by Warner Bros. Discovery for a tax write-off, sparking industry outrage. Ketchup Entertainment later acquired distribution rights, setting a theatrical release for August 2026. With a $72 million budget, the film is rated PG and promises family-friendly laughs with a satirical edge. Early test screenings have drawn comparisons to Barbie in terms of broad audience appeal. [edit]

Wile E. Coyote, a super genius by his own admission, has spent decades ordering Acme products to catch the Road Runner, only to have each device fail catastrophically. After one particularly explosive failure involving rocket skates and a cliff, he realizes the common denominator is not his planning but the defective merchandise. He walks into the office of Kevin Avery, a small-time lawyer whose billboard practice is barely surviving. Kevin initially thinks he is hallucinating when a cartoon coyote appears, but Wile E. presents a stack of receipts and failed product parts as evidence.

Kevin takes the case, and they file a lawsuit against the Acme Corporation. The company hires Buddy Crane, the intimidating boss of Kevin's former law firm, to defend them. Crane is a corporate shark who will stop at nothing to protect Acme's secrets. Kevin is joined by his daughter Paige (Lana Condor), who assists him, and fellow lawyer Sal Maltese (Tone Bell). They begin gathering evidence, uncovering a pattern of product failures that suggests deliberate design flaws.

As the trial approaches, Kevin and Wile E. bond over their shared status as underdogs. Wile E.'s attempts to help with investigation often result in slapstick accidents, but his determination impresses Kevin. The courtroom scenes feature Judge Troppogrosso (Luis Guzmán), who must navigate the unprecedented situation of a cartoon plaintiff. The film balances legal drama with classic Looney Tunes physical comedy, as the pair face obstacles from Acme's legal team and the company's hidden agenda.

Supporting characters include Dottie Jones (Martha Kelly), a legal assistant, and Bill Pellicanos (P.J. Byrne), a potential witness. Various Looney Tunes characters appear in cameos, voiced by Eric Bauza and Jeff Bergman, including Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Elmer Fudd, Foghorn Leghorn, Sylvester, Yosemite Sam, and Dr. Lorre. The Road Runner appears briefly, subverting the traditional chase dynamic by focusing on the legal battle rather than physical pursuit. The story builds toward a trial where Kevin must prove Acme's systematic defectiveness while Crane tries to discredit the case and the unusual plaintiff.[edit]