According to Deadline, the actor discussed the experience with Entertainment Weekly, including the 2023 decision that left the completed movie without a release and its eventual rescue by Ketchup Entertainment.
John Cena Reflects on the Long Road to ‘Coyote vs. Acme’
Cena stars as Buddy Crane, a lawyer representing Acme Corporation against Wile E. Coyote in the courtroom. The picture, directed by Dave Green, pairs live-action characters with the Looney Tunes cast and follows Wile E. as he takes Acme to court after its products repeatedly cause him trouble.
Source: IMDb
The movie was completed before Warner Bros. Discovery shelved it in November 2023 as part of a tax write-off strategy. Following significant backlash, the studio eventually allowed the filmmakers to look for another distributor. After a lengthy search, Ketchup Entertainment acquired the rights for approximately $50 million in 2025.
For Cena, the experience did not change how he approaches his work. “I am hired by an employer to do a task, and it’s my job to prepare as much as I can, be early, be coachable, be passionate, and be reliable. I do that and hope for the best,” he told Entertainment Weekly.
The actor also acknowledged that performers ultimately have limited control over what happens after they complete a project. “Of course, I want my work seen by an audience,” Cena said. “But I don’t own my performance. I’m contracted to do a job, and the person who owns it gets to decide what happens with it.”
That perspective became particularly relevant with “Coyote vs. Acme,” which spent years in limbo despite being finished. The film eventually screened at San Diego Comic-Con in July and is scheduled to open in U.S. theaters on August 28.
Cena ultimately pointed to the part of the production that remained within his control. “Even if the movie never saw the light of day, the takeaway I have is that, with the things within my control, I got to be there on the ground with people who made me better and people I care about, and I got to do the thing.”
