This week, brands are tapping into star power to launch their newest campaigns. Check out our must-read articles discussing the new ads featuring high-profile athletes, actors, superheroes, and pop stars.

Gatorade Features New Generation of Star Athletes

Last week, Gatorade revived one of their most iconic ad campaigns with a new generation of star athletes. The first spot in the new campaign is a modern take on their “Is It in You?” ad and utilizes longtime partner (and star of the original 1998 ad) Michael Jordan as the narrator. The ad features black-and-white footage of some of today’s biggest young stars, including Caitlin Clark, Jayson Tatum, and Josh Allen, dotted with iconic Gatorade-colored sweat. According to brand executives, the new effort will be “the single biggest brand campaign” in the history of Gatorade.

Gatorade first teased the campaign with billboards featuring Clark ahead of her WNBA debut. The first ad premiered during Game 5 of the NBA Western Conference Finals, and subsequent campaign efforts will continue to roll out on TV, digital, social, and out-of-home platforms. Watch the spot and learn more about Gatorade’s biggest campaign yet here: https://adage.com/article/marketing-news-strategy/watch-gatorade-ad-michael-jordan-and-caitlin-clark/2562496

Corona Highlights Latino Heritage with Pedro Pascal

In their newest ad, beer brand Corona is leaning into their “modern Latino ethos,” as a brand spokesperson puts it. “La Vida Más Fina” stars Emmy-nominated actor Pedro Pascal as he follows a mysterious path of sand to beach. Eventually he realizes the beach is just a state of mind – one that’s easier to achieve with a Corona in hand. Pascal uses both English and Spanish in the ad to further highlight Corona’s Latino roots and blending of Latino and American cultures.

The new ad is Pascal’s first since being named Corona’s new brand ambassador. The actor has previously explained that the partnership was meaningful to him, as it represents his own experiences growing up bilingual and balancing his Chilean heritage with an American upbringing. Find out more about Corona and Pedro Pascal’s ongoing collaboration here: https://www.campaignlive.com/article/watch-pedro-pascal-fronts-corona-la-vida-mas-fina-campaign/1873848

Heineken Reengages Partnership with Marvel

Heineken is diving deeper into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The beer brand’s new ad features Marvel characters Deadpool and Wolverine ahead of their new film premiering later this summer. The spot kicks off with a battle between the rival superheroes and sees Deadpool end the fight by pulling out two Heineken Silver cans for them to enjoy together.

Heineken has been promoting its Silver offering for months, highlighting the lower calories and lighter alcohol content in the beer. The brand has preciously partnered with Marvel to advertise around the release of films like “The Falcon & the Winter Soldier” and “Ant-Man & the Wasp: Quantumania.” You can see their newest spot here: https://www.marketingdive.com/news/heineken-silver-settles-deadpool-wolverine-rivalry-campaign/716786/

Alexander Wang Uses Celebrity Lookalikes in New Ad

While other brands launched campaigns with real-life celebrity partners, Alexander Wang took a decidedly different and more controversial approach. The fashion brand’s new social media campaign starred notable celebrity lookalikes, including doppelgangers for Beyonce, Taylor Swift, Kylie Jenner, and Ariana Grande. In the video released on Instagram and TikTok, each woman posed as their celebrity lookalike to promote the rerelease of Alexander Wang’s “repackaged classic” Rocco handbag.

Naturally, the video has sparked intense conversation online. Some social media users found the ad to be funny and creative. Others shared concerns about faking the endorsement of high-profile celebrities – especially because Wang has previously been accused of sexual assault, and these women may no longer want their name attached to his brand. Some also questioned the overall message of the ad. (One commenter questioned, “Is the message that your bags are cheap knockoffs?”) Let us know you take on the controversial video, and find out more details about the stunt here: https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/internet/alexander-wang-uses-taylor-swift-beyonce-look-alikes-new-ad-rcna154504