The long-delayed Looney Tunes feature, aka Coyote vs. Acme, is set to hit theaters after a notorious studio cancellation. Despite the years of will-it-won’t-it release, leading man John Cena remains remarkably grounded about the business decision that nearly erased the project.
John Cena was very practical about Coyote vs. Acme being canceled
When Warner Bros. Discovery shelved Coyote vs. Acme in November 2023 for a tax write-off, the move led to backlash from filmmakers, fans, and industry observers alike. The legal comedy, directed by Dave Green and starring Will Forte alongside Cena, had already completed principal photography in New Mexico. Yet the studio deemed the finished product more valuable as a financial loss than as a theatrical release.
Speaking to Variety at the film’s premiere, John Cena addressed the moment he learned the studio would shelve his work. His response avoided the outrage that defined much of the public discourse. “So it’s not normal. That doesn’t normally happen,” Cena admitted. “And at the same time, I try to look at things realistically. I was contracted and paid to do work. I delivered that work on time and task, and felt I put my heart and soul into it. It’s somebody else’s property, and what they choose to do with it is what they choose to do with it.”
Moreover, Coyote vs. Acme’s journey back from cancellation was unusual. Following sustained public pressure, Warner Bros. reversed its decision and allowed the filmmakers to seek alternative distribution. After unsuccessful negotiations with several studios, Ketchup Entertainment acquired the rights for $50 million in March 2025.
Cena credits the audience for the film’s resurrection. “A testament to the audience,” he previously called the release, noting that fans “kept this in the conversation for four years,” per Entertainment Weekly. Coyote vs. Acme follows Wile E. Coyote as he enlists a billboard attorney to sue the Acme Corporation for selling faulty products. The film also stars Lana Condor, Tone Bell, Luis Guzmán, and Eric Bauza voicing the iconic coyote.
