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John Cena is going from the bullet- and F-bomb-strewn world of Peacemaker to the more family-friendly yet no less hazardous world of Looney Tunes.

The actor has closed a deal to star in Coyote vs Acme, a live-action/CG animation hybrid feature from Warner Bros. centered on the classic Looney Tunes character Wile E. Coyote.

Dave Green, who previously helmed Earth to Echo and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows, is directing. Chris DeFaria and James Gunn are producing the film. Screenwriter Samy Burch penned the latest draft of the script, based on the New Yorker humor article “Coyote v. Acme” by Ian Frazier, published in 1990.

Wile E. Coyote is, of course, the silent and cunningly inventive mammal who is endlessly foiled in his attempts to capture and kill his nemesis and potential meal, the Road Runner. He is aided in his attempts by devices mail-ordered from Acme Corporation, which never quite work the way they are supposed to.

The feature will tell the story of a down-on-his-luck (human) attorney who takes on Wile E. as a client in his suit against Acme over its defective products, only to discover that his boss at his former law firm is representing Acme.

Cena will play the former boss in the feature, which seems like part courtroom drama, part family comedy.

Production is due to begin in late March in New Mexico.

A champion WWE wrestler, Cena has made huge strides into acting, tackling profane comedies (Blockers, Vacation Friends) and family comedies (Playing With Fire) in equal measure, as well as adventure and action movies. Last year he starred in both F9: The Fast Saga and The Suicide Squad, the latter a Warners DC movie that spun off his character, Peacemaker, into his own series for HBO Max.

The show has proven to be a buzzworthy draw for the streamer, and earlier Wednesday HBO Max announced it was renewed for a second season.

Cena is repped by ICM Partners

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EXCLUSIVE: Will Forte and Lana Condor are set to join John Cena in Warner Bros’ Looney Tunes animated hybrid pic Coyote vs. Acme. Dave Green will direct, with a screenplay from Samy Burch based on the Looney Tunes characters and the New Yorker humor article “Coyote v. Acme” by Ian Frazier.

The film follows Wile E. Coyote, who after ACME products fail him one too many times in his dogged pursuit of the Roadrunner, decides to hire a billboard lawyer to sue the ACME Corporation. The case pits Wile E. and his lawyer (Forte) against the latter’s intimidating former boss (Cena), but a growing friendship between man and cartoon stokes their determination to win.

Chris DeFaria and James Gunn are producing, the latter, who also created the Peacemaker series, under his Troll Court production banner. The film is set to bow in theaters on July 21, 2023.

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