Hollywood actors and, perhaps more importantly, former DC superheroes, Ryan Reynolds and Grant Gustin, have just teamed up for a new MNTN advertisement, igniting both amusement and nostalgia among fans. The campaign, which subtly acknowledges their iconic roles as Green Lanter and The Flash, respectively, reflects a burgeoning trend of the industry's leveraging of pop culture's most favorite characters to anchor contemporary marketing narratives.
The advertisement, which promotes MNTN's Performance TV technology - a self-serve ad platform that's designed to revolutionize Connected TV advertising - presents Gustin in the role of Seymour Roas, the fictional Chief Performance Officer at MNTN. His character, brimming with a mix of technical acumen and a wry sense of humor, is a nod to Gustin's decade-long portrayal of Barry Allen, aka The Flash, on CW. Gustin's tenure as the Scarlet Speedster has left an indelible mark on his career, with fans continuing to associate him with the role even as the series concluded earlier this year after nine seasons.
Ryan Reynolds, serving as the Chief Creative Officer at MNTN and co-star in the ad, is no stranger to superhero roles or the intricacies of engaging marketing. Reynolds' sardonic wit shines through as he pokes fun at Gustin's Flash portrayal with quips like, "That sounds fast," followed by, "Would you say people could see results…in a flash?" Although Gustin's Roas plays coy, declining to indulge in Reynolds' allusions, the banter culminates in a heartfelt yet humorous exchange: "You'll always be my Barry," Reynolds asserts, to which Gustin retorts, "You'll always be my Hal" - a playful jab at Reynolds' less celebrated stint as Green Lantern's Hal Jordan.
