The new Coyote vs. ACME trailer feels like a middle finger to Warner Bros
The long-delayed Looney Tunes movie finally drops its first footage, and it's packed with meta jabs at the studio that almost killed it
At a glance
What matters most
- Coyote vs. ACME's first trailer leans into meta humor, openly mocking Warner Bros. for nearly canceling the film
- Will Forte stars as a lawyer defending Wile E. Coyote in a lawsuit against the ACME Corporation, blending live-action and animation
- The movie was famously shelved in 2023 for tax write-offs, then revived after backlash from fans and filmmakers
- Marketing calls it 'The Film Acme Didn't Want You to See,' turning studio controversy into a central theme
Across the spectrum
What people are saying
A quick look at how the same story is being framed from different angles.
On the Left
This trailer turns corporate recklessness into satire, and good riddance. Warner Bros. tried to erase a finished film for a tax break, showing total disregard for artists and fans. That backlash mattered, and now the movie gets to mock the very system that tried to kill it. It's not just entertainment-it's accountability with cartoon anvils.
In the Center
The trailer's meta humor is bold, but it risks alienating the studio promoting it. While the story of the film's cancellation and revival adds depth, leaning too hard into that narrative might overshadow the actual comedy. The real test will be whether audiences care about the behind-the-scenes drama-or just want to see the coyote finally catch the roadrunner.
On the Right
Using a movie to attack the studio that's releasing it feels like ungrateful performance art. Warner Bros. reversed its decision, gave the film a green light, and is now marketing it aggressively. Turning ACME into a villain that mirrors corporate Hollywood just burns a bridge for no reason. Art should push boundaries, but this crosses into pettiness.
Full coverage
What you should know
The first trailer for Coyote vs. ACME is finally here, and it doesn't just crack jokes-it swings for the fences at Warner Bros. itself. The long-delayed Looney Tunes hybrid, which blends live-action with classic animation, opens not with a bang, but with a wink: a courtroom scene where Wile E. Coyote sues the ACME Corporation for years of faulty products. But the real target might be the studio behind the curtain.
Starring Will Forte as the earnest lawyer fighting for the perpetually outsmarted coyote, the film leans hard into self-aware humor. One line has Forte's character asking, 'How many times can a man fall off a cliff before someone at ACME takes responsibility?' It's a punchline with layers-especially when you remember that Warner Bros. once pulled the plug on the movie entirely in 2023, writing it off for tax purposes despite it being fully shot.
That decision sparked outrage across Hollywood. Directors, animators, and fans rallied, calling the cancellation tone-deaf and wasteful. Months later, under new leadership and mounting pressure, Warner Bros. reversed course. Now, the studio is marketing the film as 'The Film Acme Didn't Want You to See'-a cheeky nod to its own role in nearly burying it.
The trailer is packed with visual gags and classic Looney Tunes chaos, but the meta edge stands out. ACME isn't just a fictional company selling defective rocket skates-it's a stand-in for corporate Hollywood, where bottom lines often trump creativity. The film's tone suggests frustration, even defiance, turning its near-death experience into a rallying cry.
Directed by Dave Green, best known for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows, the project was supposed to be a love letter to animation. Now, it feels like something more: a satire with real stakes, where the line between cartoon absurdity and studio cynicism gets blurrier by the second.
There's still plenty of fun to be had. The animation pops, the live-action world feels grounded enough to sell the madness, and Forte brings his usual mix of sincerity and dry humor. But the most memorable moments aren't the slapstick-they're the ones that feel like they're speaking directly to the audience, saying, 'You remember what almost happened, right?'
Coyote vs. ACME hits theaters August 28, 2026. Whether it plays as a triumphant comeback or a bitter roast of studio politics may depend on who's watching-and how much they care about what went on behind the scenes.
About this author
Zwely News Staff compiles multi-source reporting into concise, viewpoint-aware coverage for readers who want context without noise.
Source Notes
Coyote vs.ACME trailer plays like a hate letter to Warner Bros
The first trailer for Coyote vs. ACME, the Looney Tunes live-action/animated hybrid film, includes many meta jokes against Warner Bros.
‘Coyote Vs. Acme’ Trailer: Attorney Will Forte Defends Wile E. Coyote Against Acme In First Look At Long Anticipated Live-Action/Animation Hybrid
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