Is Coyote Latino? “I mean, where he comes from, he’s definitely Latino, 100%,” says Luis Guzmán, one of the stars of Coyote vs. Acme. “Because what else is he going to be? They don’t have coyotes in Iowa. They don’t have coyotes in Maine. They don’t have coyotes in Miami, but they got them out there in the Southwest. And if you look historically, the Southwest was Mexico at one time.”
Facts – as the kids say.
Latina Media Co spoke one-on-one with the legendary actor about his latest film, discussing some very pressing questions, like: Is Coyote Latino? What kind of judge would Señor Guzmán be? And why is shooting in New Mexico bittersweet? (Spoiler alert: it involves border patrol.)
As for the film, pobrecito Coyote is fed up with always being on the losing side of his pursuit of Roadrunner. Defective roller skates and ill-timed bomb explosions are just not doing the job they’re supposed to do. Come to think of it, none of Acme’s products do. Giving up isn’t an option so el coyote decides to take his complaints to court. With the help of his lawyer, Kevin Avery (a nod to Tex Avery, legendary animator of Looney Tunes), played by Will Forte, the two take Acme to court and sue their animated asses.
Luis Guzmán may have spent a good amount of his early career playing men on the wrong side of the law. In Coyote vs. Acme, Guzman puts down the proverbial gun and picks up a gavel, presiding over the case at hand. He is quick to say he isn’t a loosey-goosey type of judge – he plays by the rules. And that got us wondering, with all that power and prestige, what type of judge Guzmán would be if he ever switched careers.
The Puerto Rican icon was quick to name a real-life example, State Supreme Court Judge Edwin Torres, who Guzmán praises as a fellow New Yorker and the author of After Hours and Carlito’s Way, which became the 1993 movie starring Al Pacino and Luis Guzmán.
Guzmán continues, “I’ve been to his courtroom. He was no nonsense – Whether it’s with the DA or the defending attorney, [he’s] like, ‘okay, this is my courtroom. What do you guys want to do here? Let’s go. I ain’t got all day,’ and that attitude I carry with me.”
And that’s an attitude Guzmán needed to weather the storm that darkened this film’s path to distribution. Warner Bros. shelved the completed Coyote vs. Acme in favor of a tax break, but fan protests pushed the studio to sell the film. Ketchup Entertainment bought it and is distributing it nationwide.
“I’m glad that it’s going to its proper place to be seen in theaters,” Guzmán shared. “I want to thank the public because they were the champions of this film, along with the directors and our actors.” He continues, “It’s a bit of a generational piece because these Looney Tunes characters have been around 50, 60, years. And in 2026, to see a film that incorporates them, I think it’s beautiful. I think it’s great.”
The film keeps many of the cherished cartoon characters and includes a wrong turn in Albuquerque – which made this born and raised New Mexican muy feliz. For Guzmán, however, it isn’t all the Land of Enchantment.
“I love it there – I love the culture, the people. I love the pride that’s there. It’s also at times a bit of a sad place for me,” Guzmán states. “We did a film one time in Deming (a small city in southeast New Mexico), there was more Border Patrol people than the actual residents of this one town, you know? I just found that different because I’m not used to that. We drove out to that desert a few times to film some scenes, and we had to go through like three checkpoints, even though you haven’t hit the border.”
“That just gave you a lot to think about,” he says. “You see that terrain, and you say, ‘My God, the commitment and the dedication that people make to come to this country for a better life,’ you know, it shows a lot of resilience.”
Not unlike the Coyote. “Because no matter how many failed attempts he tried, he didn’t quit.”
And while we think that perfectly describes the Latino experience, it’s also a great lesson for the kids. “It shows the little guy taking on the big guys. We can take him on any time and come out with a better outcome. I’m not going to say Coyote is going to be successful, but I will say he will never give up.”
With over 175 acting credits, Guzmán shares those traits with Coyote and our people – resilience, persistence, and hope. And that is something he takes a lot of pride in.
“I’m most proud of being able to represent my community. I’m able to be a voice for our community. I’m proud to be Latino, and I encourage every single one of us to keep creating. We will find a way,” he says emphatically. “We haven’t knocked down all the walls, but we have knocked down some walls.”
Coyote vs. Acme is truly a fun and funny family film. I was delighted watching it, laughing out loud quite a few times. So if your aim is to stick it to the man, buy a ticket to see this in theaters. Coyote vs. Acme is out in theaters August 28.
