If you went back to November 2023 and told “Coyote vs. Acme” director Dave Green that his legal comedy Looney Toons would make its debut at San Diego Comic-Con, he probably wouldn’t believe it. Of course, that’s largely because that’s when Green learned that Warner Bros. Discovery had filed the film as a tax write-off.

“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 posted on X at the time after receiving the “devastating” news. “But in the spirit of Wile E. Coyote, resilience and perseverance triumph.”

And win the day they did. Ketchup Entertainment eventually rescued the film and set its theatrical release for August 28. “Coyote vs. Acme,” a live-action/animation hybrid about Wile E. Coyote taking on Acme Corporation for intentionally releasing defective products, will have its first public screening Saturday night at Comic-Con.

“I’ve waited so long to see your reaction. I feel like the years, for me, have [all led] until tonight,” said Lana Condor, who stars in the film alongside Will Forte, John Cena and a bunch of Looney Tunes like Roadrunner, Tweety and Bugs Bunny. “I really want you guys to like it, and I think you’re going to love it. I have a lot of confidence in that.”

The most enduring image of the campaign to save “Coyote vs. Acme” was that of a lone protester dressed as Wile E. Coyote, holding a “Free Me” sign outside the Warner Bros. studios in the pouring rain.

“We put out a call to action: ‘Where are you? Reveal, we’d love to invite you!'” Condor said. But Green confirmed that the lone wolf never stepped forward. Still, the anonymous whistleblower’s legacy lives on as the “Coyote vs. Acme” team built one of his masks for last year’s Comic-Con panel.

“We found out how his costume was constructed and it was made of paper!” Green said excitedly.

“Coyote vs. Acme” heads to theaters as Warner Bros. endures another change in direction: this time, the impending merger with Paramount Skydance, which has many people in the industry nervous.

But while the broader implications of the Warner-Paramount merger remain to be seen (especially after the merger’s delay), tonight the entire cast and crew of “Coyote vs. Acme” have a lot to celebrate.

“A lot of people defended a movie they never even saw…which is exactly Wile’s entire journey throughout our entire movie!” Condor said. “I firmly believe the reason it’s coming out is because of the fans. It was truly amazing to experience. That’s why tonight we’re so excited to screen it for the first time because this is what you fought for. I’m so sure the fight was for a good reason.”

The film’s script was written by “May Dec” screenwriter Samy Burch from a story by James Gunn and Jeremy Slater. It is based on a 1990 New Yorker article by Ian Frazier.

Watch the full conversation with VarietyAngelique Jackson next.