John Cena’s ‘Coyote vs. Acme’ Shelved by Warner Bros.

Warner Bros. has officially dropped the anvil on the live action/CG animation hybrid feature Coyote vs. Acme one year after filming was completed, according to THR. The project featured the infamous ACME warehouse, the manufacturer of anything and everything used by the Looney Tunes characters.

“With the re-launch of Warner Bros. Pictures Animation in June, the studio has shifted its global strategy to focus on theatrical releases,” a WB Motion Picture Group spokesperson said in a statement. “With this new direction, we have made the difficult decision not to move forward with Coyote vs Acme. We have tremendous respect for the filmmakers, cast, and crew, and are grateful for their contributions to the film.”

Based on Ian Frazier’s 1990 humor article “Coyote v. Acme,” Dave Green directed (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows) the ill-fated flick from a script by Samy Burch. Mixing courtroom procedural and zany comedic elements, the story centered on a down-and-out billboard lawyer who decides to represent Wile. E. Coyote in his lawsuit against ACME Corporation over its defective products.

“For three years, I was lucky enough to make a movie about Wile E. Coyote, the most persistent, passionate, and resilient character of [all] time,” Green stated on X. “I was surrounded by a brilliant team, who poured their souls into this project.  Along the ride, we were embraced by test audiences who rewarded us with fantastic scores.”

John Cena (Peacemaker) starred alongside Lana Condor (To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before), Will Forte (Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken), P.J. Byrne (Gen V), and more.

The VFX were set to be created by BUF, DNEG, Double Negative, Firebrand VFX, Framestore, Jellyfish Pictures, and Warner Brothers, with George Murphy acting as visual effects supervisor.

Journalist, antique shop owner, aspiring gemologist—L'Wren brings a diverse perspective to animation, where every frame reflects her varied passions.