SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The live-action Looney Tunes film from DC Studios’ James Gunn that almost didn’t happen is finally getting ready to hit theaters a year after the cast and filmmaking team announced at San Diego Comic-Con 2025 that the previously shelved film was given a new life thanks to Ketchup Entertainment.
The movie, starring Will Forte (Kevin Avery), John Cena (Buddy Crane) and Lana Condor (Paige Avery), was initially shelved by Warner Bros. in 2023.
‘Coyote vs. Acme’ movie set for fall 2026 after Comic-Con reveal
After it was announced at San Diego Comic-Con last year that Ketchup Entertainment would be distributing the live-action/animated comedy, early critic reviews ahead of its Aug. 28, 2026 debut in theaters are giving the film a 95% (per Rotten Tomatoes).
“This is the panel that you were not supposed to see. This movie was not supposed to come out,” moderator Paul Scheer said to a cheering crowd at the start of the San Diego Comic-Con 2025 Hall H panel.
All the announcements from San Diego Comic-Con 2026
On the Today show, Will Forte just this week gave fans credit for not giving up and getting the movie into theaters.
The trailer, released in April, follows Wile E. Coyote as he sues the Acme Corporation, with help from billboard lawyer Will Forte, for years of being blown up, hit by trains, thrown off cliffs and more.
San Diego fined Marvel contractor $160K for Gaslamp sign
The movie was filmed in 2022 in Albuquerque, New Mexico and based on a 1990 New Yorker article “Coyote v. Acme.” The 2026 film was written by DC’s James Gunn, Ian Frazier, Samy Burch and Jeremy Slater, directed by Dave Green.
The film employed 180 New Mexico crew members, 49 New Mexico principal actors and 2,120 New Mexico background talent.
“Thank you again so much for making this happen, you guys. We never thought it would, and because of you, we’re going to get to see it,” Forte said to close out the 2025 San Diego Comic-Con panel.
Follow more San Diego Comic-Con coverage at fox5sandiego.com/entertainment/comic-con.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
