Coyote vs. Acme: Will Forte and Dave Green Discuss Its Extended Delay

      The journey of Coyote vs. Acme seems like a reflection of the film's theme itself: it centers on a corporation making astute business choices without considering emotions. In 2023, Warner Bros. Discovery chose to shelve the project as a means to achieve a tax write-off, leaving director Dave Green, star Will Forte, and others involved in the film heartbroken. Green mentions that three crew members were so passionate about the film that they even got Wile E. Coyote tattoos.

      The backlash to the film's shelving was immediate and fervent. Many of Green’s colleagues from the filmmaking community voiced their objections, as did fans who flocked to social media to insist on seeing the film.

      Eventually, Warner Bros. reversed its decision, allowing the filmmakers to seek a distribution partner, which led Ketchup Entertainment to pick up the film for a release on August 28.

      Coyote vs. Acme is inspired by a 1990 New Yorker article by Ian Frazier, which is framed as a legal complaint where Wile E. Coyote articulates the many ways Acme products have failed him in his attempts to catch the Road Runner, another character from Looney Tunes.

      The screenplay, crafted by Samy Burch (May December), based on a story by Burch, Jeremy Slater, and DC Studios co-head James Gunn, brings this lawsuit narrative to life. Forte portrays Albuquerque lawyer Will Forte (think of Saul Goodman with moral integrity and lacking ambition), who, alongside new recruit Paige (Lana Condor), confronts Acme's lawyer Buddy Crane (John Cena) and his boastful boss. Fans of Looney Tunes will enjoy the creative appearances of beloved characters, reminiscent of the animated toons in one of the film’s inspirations, Who Framed Roger Rabbit.

      We sat down with Forte and Green to discuss their delayed path to theaters, the significance of kindness, and their appreciation for Warner Bros. for ultimately making the right decision.

      Dave Green and Will Forte on the Emotional Journey of Coyote vs. Acme

      Lana Condor, Wile E. Coyote and Will Forte in Coyote vs. Acme. Ketchup Entertainment. – Credit: Ketchup Entertainment

      MovieMaker: Does the film begin with a joke aimed at Warner Bros., which is also included in the trailer? Was this part of the film before the tax write-off situation arose?

      Dave Green: Yes, for sure. We received permission from Warner Bros. to include that joke. They have a history of playfully engaging with their logo. I’m sure a large team of lawyers reviewed it.

      Will Forte: We were unaware of how closely we were aligning with the saying “art imitates life” at that time.

      MovieMaker: After they seemingly accepted the small joke and you created a film lampooning large corporations, how disheartened were you when Warner Bros. opted for a very corporate move by writing off your completed film for taxes?

      Will Forte: Disappointment was just one of the many overwhelming emotions I felt, and they were all at their peak. It was as if every negative emotion surged while the positive ones did not emerge.

      After viewing it, there was a sense of pride in the film, yet that only added to the bucket of frustration. It heightened the negative feelings. So yes, I was genuinely disheartened, disappointed, frustrated—angry for a time—and then confused, and I attempted to move on from it.

      Dave Green: Will’s anger was therapeutic for me. He and many of my friends, along with countless voices online, provided support for the film. It never felt like we were isolated in this process.

      Will Forte: We were brainstorming ways to persuade them to still showcase the movie. I suggested, “What if we offered to show the film on YouTube, with all proceeds going to charity? You might get an even larger tax write-off from the contributions.” I advocated for that approach for a while, but someone dismissed it as unworkable.

      Dave Green: There was a lengthy time when I would have been genuinely ecstatic to have the movie available on an airline. So, we are truly thrilled and overjoyed to reach this moment where families can enjoy it on the big screen.

      Will Forte and Wile E. Coyote in Coyote vs. Acme. Ketchup Films – Credit: Ketchup Entertainment

      MovieMaker: How challenging is it to create a film that appeals to both children and adults?

      Dave Green: As a child, I remember the feeling of adults speaking down to me, which was unbearable. The movies I cherished—like Raiders, Beetlejuice, Tim Burton’s Batman, and Ghostbusters—were family films that never patronized kids. That’s always my aim: to avoid pandering.

      The Looney Tunes have also excelled in this regard over the years. Many children’s first exposure to opera came through Looney Tunes, as