Hollywood executives at Warner Bros. Pictures Animation seem to have finally remembered that audiences don’t need every classic cartoon cleaned up for “modern sensibilities.” The studio just announced that Mexican animator Jorge R. Gutiérrez is developing a new Speedy Gonzales movie, giving the world’s fastest mouse another chance to make his mark on the big screen. Gutiérrez teased the project on Instagram when he posted a photo wearing a Speedy T-shirt and holding a figurine of the sombrero-wearing character. The caption read: “Guess what movie I might be developing at Warner Brothers Pictures Animation…”
Plot details are still under wraps, but Speedy Gonzales has been a key part of the Looney Tunes universe since the 1950s. Some American critics have called him “outdated” or even “offensive.” Yet, in Mexico, he’s viewed as a folk hero. He’s fast, clever, and always a step ahead of danger. The character was last voiced by Gabriel Iglesias in Space Jam: A New Legacy back in 2021. Over time, other actors like Fred Armison, Tim Dadabo, and Dino Andrade have also brought him to life.
Warner Bros. cancelled the project nearly a decade ago, but recently animation president Bill Damaschke praised Gutiérrez’s artistic vision, saying, “Jorge is a singular storyteller whose voice, artistry, and cultural perspective make every project he touches feel both timeless and completely new. We couldn’t be more excited to have him reimagining Speedy Gonzales, one of our most beloved Looney Tunes characters, for today’s global audience.”
That phrase “today’s global audience” still sounds a lot like corporate talk for cleaning up anything that might ruffle feathers. But Mexican actor Eugenio Derbez, who was once set to star in a Speedy Gonzales film back in 2016, had a different take. “The only ones offended are the Americans, but we [Mexicans] love Speedy Gonzales,” Derbez told United Press International. “He’s smart. He outsmarts the cats. He’s a hero. He gets cheese for his people. He’s fast.” His words echo what many fans have been saying for years: why apologize for a character who represents quick wit and pride?
The announcement arrives during a turbulent period for the Looney Tunes brand. The Daffy Duck and Porky Pig feature The Day the Earth Blew Up had a normal theatrical release last year, but Warner Bros. nearly destroyed fan confidence after shelving Coyote vs. Acme as a tax write-off. The live-action and animation mix, starring John Cena, Will Forte, and Luis Guzmán, sat in limbo for years until Ketchup Entertainment bought it for around $50 million. Now, Coyote vs. Acme is set to hit theaters on August 28, 2026, proof that the studio may finally be remembering what fans actually want: fun, not filters.
So, the question remains, will this new Speedy Gonzales film embrace the mouse’s authentic spirit, or will Warner Bros. chase approval from the same cultural gatekeepers that almost canceled him in the first place? Viewers tired of political correctness dragging down creativity already know the answer they’re hoping for.
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