Five Major Brands Team Up With “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story”

Lucasfilm announced today that they are teaming up with five of the world’s most well-known brands—Duracell, General Mills, Gillette, Nissan and Verizon—for the launch of an extensive global promotional campaign in support of “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” opening on December 16.

“We are extremely pleased to be working with such a remarkable group of promotional partners for ‘Rogue One,’” said Lynwen Brennan, General Manager of Lucasfilm. “This first in a series of Star Wars standalone films represents an exciting new era for both Star Wars and Lucasfilm, and the partners joining us on this exciting journey have each designed a stellar campaign capturing the spirit and camaraderie of ‘Rogue One.’”

With their specific, custom-designed campaigns and innovative programs, the five internationally respected global brands are poised to complement the tempo and tone of the overall marketing campaign of this first-ever standalone Star Wars story.

DURACELL

Founded in the 1920s, the Duracell brand has grown to be the leader in the single-use battery market in North America.  Its iconic brand is known the world over. Its products are trusted in the devices that keep people connected, protect their families, entertain them, and simplify their increasingly mobile lifestyles.  The Duracell Company is owned by Berkshire Hathaway, a $210B holding company owning subsidiaries that engage in diverse business activities. Visit www.duracell.com for more information.

GENERAL MILLS
General Mills is a leading global food company that serves the world by making food people love. Its brands include Cheerios, Annie’s, Yoplait, Nature Valley, Fiber One, Haagen-Dazs, Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, Old El Paso, Wanchai Ferry, Yoki and more. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, General Mills had fiscal 2016 worldwide sales of US $17.6 billion, including the company’s US $1.0 billion proportionate share of joint-venture net sales.

GILLETTE

For over 110 years, Gillette has delivered precision technology and unrivalled product performance – improving the lives of over 750 million men around the world. From shaving and body grooming, to skin care and sweat protection, Gillette offers a wide variety of products including razors, shave gel (gels, foams and creams), skin care, after shaves, antiperspirants, deodorants and body wash. For more information and the latest news on Gillette, visit http://www.gillette.com/.

NISSAN MOTOR CO. 
Employing more than 37,000 team members in U.S., Canada and Mexico, Nissan’s operations include automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. Nissan leads the world in zero-emission mobility, dominated by sales of the LEAF, the first mass-market, pure-electric vehicle. It is the best-selling EV in history. More information on the complete line of Nissan vehicles, our services and commitment to sustainable mobility can be found online at NissanNews.com.

VERIZON

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ), headquartered in New York City, has a diverse workforce of nearly 162,700 and generated nearly $132 billion in 2015 revenues. Verizon operates America’s most reliable wireless network, with 113.2 million retail connections nationwide. The company also provides communications and entertainment services over mobile broadband and the nation’s premiere all-fiber network, and delivers integrated business solutions to customers worldwide.

Our Take:

It’s not a huge surprise to see Disney team up with a variety of different partners to promote the upcoming Star Wars movie, especially following the success of “The Force Awakens”.    Though I’m not sure how these brands fit the tone of the movie but as long as product placement doesn’t start appearing in a Galaxy Far Far away, it’s fine with me!

What do you think of these partnerships?