For over 90 years now, the Looney Tunes have remained some of the most iconic cartoon characters to ever exist. They’re arguably right up there with characters like Mickey Mouse. With their energetic animation and clever wit, they’ve managed to entertain both kids and adults alike. They have appeared in all kinds of media: shorts, TV shows, and of course, movies.
Admittedly, when it comes to the Looney Tunes’ cinematic outings, there are not a ton of them. While they have multiple compilation films, there are only four theatrically released feature-length Looney Tunes movies. However, it seems that we’re getting a new feature film with these characters on the big screen again. Whether you’re a die-hard Looney Tunes fan or you’re just hearing about this movie for the first time, here is all the info you need on what the big deal with this movie is.
How it came to be
In August of 2018, it was announced that a new Looney Tunes movie was in development. It had Chris McKay as producer, and Jon and Josh Silberman writing the script. Over a year after its announcement, Dave Green was hired to direct the feature. Samy Burch, Jeremy Slater, and James Gunn joined production as well. It’s been said that the movie draws inspiration from a New Yorker article that’s also titled Coyote vs. ACME.
As for the film’s cast, Will Forte, Lana Condor, and John Cena were cast in early 2022. Filming took place in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and lasted from March to May of 2022. According to the creative team, the movie Who Framed Roger Rabbit was a reference for how the live-action characters interact with animated characters. Overall, the making of this movie seems to have gone rather well. However, what would happen afterwards is something to remember.
Once shelved but then rescued
In November of 2023, it was announced that Warner Bros. Discovery had shelved the movie. Officials said that it was completed but that they wouldn’t release it. All of this is because Warner Bros. Discovery wanted to obtain a tax write-off.
This isn’t the first time that Warner Bros. Discovery canceled a movie for the sake of a write-off. Prior to this movie, Batgirl and Scoob! Holiday Haunt was canceled and never completed post-production. This decision drew tons of criticism from filmmakers, animation outlets, and talent representatives alike. Some left angry phone calls to Warner Bros., and others canceled meetings with the studio. Even director Dave Green expressed his disappointment over his movie being cancelled.
After the backlash, Warner Bros. Discovery reversed its decision and let the filmmakers sell the movie to other distributors. Companies such as Netflix, Apple Studios, and Amazon MGM Studios were interested in buying the distribution rights. Unfortunately, Warner Bros. Discovery kept rejecting the bids because the distributors didn’t meet their price. Because of this, the company considered shelving it again, even deleting it. As time went on, it became unclear if the movie was available for acquisition or not.
Just when it seemed like the movie would never see the light of day, promising news started to arise. On March 19, 2025, Ketchup Entertainment was in talks to get the rights to the movie from Warner Bros. Prior to this, Ketchup Entertainment acquired the distribution rights to The Day the Earth Blew Up, a Looney Tunes movie that came out last year. It wasn’t until March 31 that it was confirmed that the sale had been closed. From that point on, people became excited.
What to expect from ‘Coyote vs. ACME.’
For those that don’t know, Coyote vs. ACME follows Wile E. Coyote suing the ACME corporation. After repeatedly selling him faulty products, Coyote goes to attorney Kevin Avery to represent him in a lawsuit against ACME. As the court case goes on, Coyote and Kevin start to form a growing friendship that only strengthens their determination. They’re pitted against Buddy Crane, the boss of Kevin’s former law firm, who is now representing ACME. Will Coyote win the court case?
From the sound of that plot summary, this is a movie that not only sounds promising but has great potential for classic Looney Tunes antics. The premise of Wile E. Coyote suing the ACME corporation for repeatedly giving him faulty products is a funny one. It’s also been confirmed that other Looney Tunes characters, such as Daffy Duck and Foghorn Leghorn, will appear. Whether these other Looney Tunes are supporting characters or cameos, it’s good to know that they’ll be in it. As alluded to earlier, the movie is a hybrid of live-action and animation. However, this isn’t a first for the Looney Tunes. Whether it’s Space Jam or Looney Tunes: Back in Action, these characters have had experience with this before. With Space Jam: A New Legacy being the last one to come out in 2021, we shall see how this one will fare out.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, it’s just fantastic knowing that this movie will be released for everyone to see. It’s a dream people never thought would come true. Plus, there’s already been some praise given towards the movie by people who’ve already seen it. For instance, filmmakers Phil Lord and Chris Miller (The Lego Movie) said that it was “wonderful” and “moving.” Writer-director BenDavid Grabinski also saw it and claimed that the movie was “the best of its kind since Who Framed Roger Rabbit.” It’s statements like these that foster even more excitement for this movie.
As mentioned previously, this isn’t the first live-action/animated hybrid movie from the Looney Tunes. The only downside is that these particular movies haven’t gotten the best reception from critics. That said, this could be the one to break the mold. Only time will tell whether this movie will turn out to be a whimper or a bang.
