Warner Bros. seems unsure about the future of its classic Looney Tunes franchise. They invested heavily in the 2021 film Space Jam: A New Legacy, but then surprisingly cancelled Coyote vs. Acme after it was already completed, only releasing it through another studio after a public backlash. This made it seem like the Looney Tunes weren’t a priority. However, according to The Hollywood Reporter, Warner Bros. has now hired Jorge R. Gutierrez to direct a new movie starring Speedy Gonzales.
I’m so excited! Jorge Gutierrez, the director behind gorgeous films like The Book of Life and awesome shows like Maya and the Three, is working on something new! He just announced it on Instagram with a fun “Ándale, ándale! Arriba, arriba!” – that’s Speedy Gonzales’ famous line, by the way. We don’t know anything about the story or who’s writing it yet, but knowing Gutierrez, it’s going to be visually stunning and full of heart. Can’t wait to learn more!
Speedy Gonzales, known as the fastest mouse in Mexico, made his first appearance in a 1953 cartoon short called Cat-Tails for Two, directed by Robert McKimson. While he had the same quick personality, his appearance and voice (provided by Mel Blanc) were quite different from his later, more famous version. Two years later, in 1955, the short Speedy Gonzales directed by Friz Freleng, which featured the character as we know him today, won an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.
Looking back, the way Speedy Gonzales has been depicted in the past has unfortunately relied on some tired Mexican stereotypes. Thankfully, director Alejandro Gutierrez is known for highlighting the positive aspects of Mexican culture, and I’m hopeful he’ll bring that sensitivity to this new take. Plus, this is a Warner Bros. Animation project, much like Space Jam and the recent Coyote film – meaning it’s almost entirely animated. That could actually be a good thing for Speedy, giving the filmmakers a bit more creative freedom without as much pressure from studio executives.
Kyle Anderson is a Senior Editor at TopMob and the host of the weekly podcast, Laser Focus, where he explores pop culture in depth. He also writes film and TV reviews, and you can find his Letterboxd profile to follow his latest thoughts.
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2026-01-21 00:33