Some movies get delayed. Others nearly disappear. Coyote vs. Acme managed to do both before finally reaching theaters, turning its release into one of Hollywood’s most unusual comeback stories of 2026.
The live-action and animation hybrid comedy, starring John Cena, Lana Condor and Will Forte, arrived in U.S. theaters on August 28 after years of uncertainty. The film now gives audiences a chance to see the long-awaited story of Wile E. Coyote taking ACME Corporation to court. Rotten Tomatoes’ cast listing confirms Cena as corporate lawyer Buddy Crane, Condor as Paige Avery and Forte as attorney Kevin Avery.
From Shelved Project to Big-Screen Comeback
The road to release was anything but straightforward. The completed movie was shelved by Warner Bros. in 2023, reportedly as part of a tax-related strategy, despite positive reactions to early screenings. That decision generated significant backlash among fans and Hollywood professionals.
The project eventually found a second chance when independent distributor Ketchup Entertainment acquired it. The move transformed Coyote vs. Acme from a nearly forgotten production into a theatrical release with genuine audience anticipation. The Atlantic’s examination of the film’s journey details how the project moved from Warner Bros.’ shelves to a new distributor and eventual theatrical release.
John Cena Takes on ACME
Cena plays Buddy Crane, the slick corporate attorney representing ACME. The role gives the WWE superstar-turned-actor another opportunity to lean into his increasingly recognizable comedy persona while remaining part of a live-action story built around classic animation.
Rather than simply playing another hero, Cena gets to operate on the opposite side of the courtroom from Wile E. Coyote and Kevin Avery. That setup creates an unusual comic rivalry and gives the film a contemporary corporate-law angle.
Lana Condor Brings Another Layer to the Story
Lana Condor plays Paige Avery, Kevin’s niece and a member of the legal team representing Wile E. Coyote. Her character helps connect the courtroom storyline to the film’s broader family-friendly appeal.
Condor’s presence also adds a younger energy to a cast that includes Forte, Cena and a collection of beloved Looney Tunes characters. The result is a hybrid comedy designed to appeal both to audiences who grew up with Wile E. Coyote and to younger moviegoers discovering the character in a new format.
Why the Comeback Matters
The film’s journey is almost perfectly suited to its central character. Wile E. Coyote has spent decades surviving impossible disasters, and Coyote vs. Acme itself survived a Hollywood version of the same obstacle course.
Its theatrical performance suggests the comeback has attracted audiences. The Associated Press reported a domestic opening of approximately $15.5 million, placing the film second at the North American box office. AP also reported an A CinemaScore and a 95% Rotten Tomatoes critics score at the time of its opening coverage.
For Cena and Condor, the film represents another distinctive entry in their evolving careers. For Wile E. Coyote, it is something even more significant: a return to the big screen after a production journey almost as chaotic as one of his classic ACME schemes.
After nearly disappearing, Coyote vs. Acme has finally escaped the Hollywood canyon and reached audiences. Whether its theatrical success leads to more ambitious Looney Tunes projects could make this unlikely comeback more important than it first appears.
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