• by Larissa Faw , January 30, 2020

Publicis Groupe’s bespoke Walmart unit Dept W has created the big-box giant’s first Super Bowl commercial. It’s designed to capture attention by testing viewers’ pop culture expertise through the use of an array of iconic movie characters.

The “Famous Visitors” creative supports the retailer’s Pickup service by showing 12 well-known movie characters receiving their orders from Walmart clerks. Each snippet plays off the character’s persona, ranging from the difficulties little LEGO men would encounter carrying large bags to showing Walmart associates standing in the dark because "Star Wars" characters R2D2 and C-3PO have gotten lost.

Bill from “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure” jumps out from a phone booth to interact with both his past and future self.

Take a peek at the creative here. 

Andy Bird, Chief Creative Officer, Publicis NY/Dept W, likens the spot’s set to that of a Hollywood production. “When C3PO and R2D2 walked on set, everyone stopped and geeked out at the same time,” he quips. 

There was a tremendous amount of VFX, in a limited amount of time, he adds. “De-aging Bill’s Alex Winters, to that end, was a giant feat in itself,” says Bird. The agency’s partners at the Mill were “up against the clock” but “absolutely delivered,” he says.

Although Bird preferred to limit his comments to only address creative aspects, he says every studio approval was “exciting” largely because each of the films and characters appeal to a different audience.

The full extended cut provides context behind each visitor featured in the commercial, while the Super Bowl’s 60-second version is more tightly edited. There is also one missing visitor in the shortened version that eagle-eyed viewers may catch if they are paying attention. (Hint, he hails from the Marvel universe).

View the Super Bowl spot here.