Will Forte is finally allowing himself to exhale. The comedian, who stars in the long-delayed Coyote vs. Acme, admitted in a recent interview that the film’s overwhelmingly positive critical reception has been a surreal form of validation after years of uncertainty. “It makes it feel like you’re not crazy,” he said, confessing that the movie’s troubled path to the big screen left him second-guessing his own instincts. “I felt gaslit for a while,” he added, reflecting on the prolonged period when the project’s fate was anything but certain.
The film, which finally hit theaters on August 20, 2026, after a rocky production history that included a widely publicized shelving and subsequent revival, has defied the odds. With a solid 7.6/10 rating on TMDb and a wave of glowing reviews, Coyote vs. Acme has turned what was once a punchline in Hollywood trade publications into a genuine crowd-pleaser. For Forte, the warm response isn't just a career win - it’s a vindication of the creative vision he and the team fought to protect.
A Bumpy Road to the Big Screen
For those unfamiliar with the saga, Coyote vs. Acme follows Wile E. Coyote’s decision to stop chasing the Road Runner and instead sue the Acme Corporation for its string of defective products. The premise, a blend of live-action and animation, was initially shot and completed as far back as 2022. However, the studio behind it infamously decided to shelve the finished product for a tax write-down, a move that sparked immediate backlash from filmmakers and fans alike. The uproar was loud enough that the movie was eventually un-shelved, but the years-long limbo took a toll on everyone involved.
Forte, who plays Kevin Avery, the lawyer who takes on the coyote’s case, has been open about how demoralizing that period was. He described a feeling of being disconnected from reality, where people around him in the industry would whisper about the film’s supposed flaws, even though he knew the footage was strong. “You start to wonder if you’re the only one who saw what you saw,” he said, explaining how the external negativity often overshadowed the internal pride he felt in the work. “When you pour years into something and then hear it might never be seen, you begin to doubt everything.”
Validation at Last
Now that audiences are actually seeing the film, that doubt has been replaced by a sense of relief. Directed by Dave Green, Coyote vs. Acme has been praised not only for its inventive concept but also for its witty script and the charming performances from its ensemble cast, which includes Lana Condor, John Cena, Tone Bell, and a voice cast led by Eric Bauza handling the iconic Looney Tunes characters. Critics have specifically highlighted the film’s ability to balance absurd comedy with a surprisingly heartfelt legal drama, a tonal tightrope that could have easily collapsed.
For Forte, the praise is also about the broader message the film sends - that original, weird, and risky projects still deserve a place in the modern blockbuster landscape. He noted that the support the film received during its darkest hours proved that audiences are starved for creative risks. “This movie was almost a cautionary tale, and now it’s a comeback story,” he said, smiling through the phone. “It’s a reminder that good work can’t be buried forever.”
The actor also admitted that watching the audience reactions in recent days has been an emotional experience. He described sitting in a theater during an early screening and hearing genuine laughter from kids and adults alike, a moment that made all the stress feel worthwhile. “You forget what that feels like when you’ve been in the dark for so long,” he remarked, referencing the movie’s prolonged absence from the public eye.
What’s Next for Forte and the Coyote?
As Coyote vs. Acme continues its theatrical run, Forte is already looking ahead, but he’s not rushing to leave this moment behind. The film’s success, he says, has renewed his faith in the collaborative process. He credits Green’s direction and the entire cast for maintaining morale during the tough stretches, noting that the on-screen chemistry between the human characters and the animated coyote is the result of genuine mutual respect behind the scenes. “We believed in each other,” he said, “and that kept the ship from sinking.”
The 103-minute comedy, which also stars P.J. Byrne, Martha Kelly, and Luis Guzmán, has landed with a particular resonance in a summer season dominated by sequels and franchises. Its underdog narrative - both on screen and in its production history - has made it an easy one to root for. At the time of writing, the film’s TMDb score suggests that the word of mouth is strong, and industry observers are watching to see if it can translate into sustained box office numbers in the coming weeks.
For now, Forte is simply enjoying the fact that the conversation has shifted from whether the film would ever see the light of day to how delightful it is that it finally has. He recalled a recent interaction with a fan who told him they’d already seen it twice, which he found both amusing and touching. “We made a movie about a cartoon coyote suing a corporation,” he quipped. “Who knew that would end up being the most human story of the year?”
The actor’s final thought was a simple one, delivered without a hint of irony: “I’m just glad we get to say we made it, and people actually liked it. That’s all you can ask for.” As Coyote vs. Acme continues to charm audiences, it seems Forte’s long wait was not just worth it - it was necessary.
Source: Hollywood Reporter
