As Disney+ prepares to grace screens with the second season of Loki, a surprising collaboration unravels between the God of Mischief and a certain fast-food giant. In a bold move that only a trickster god could have conjured, McDonald’s has partnered with the Marvel series for a tantalizing sauce, serving fans both an appetizing treat and a slice of cinematic nostalgia.
Marvel enthusiasts welcomed a treat when McDonald’s, in typical playful fashion, teased fans with a cryptic video on X. A montage of popular movies and TV shows such as Seinfeld and Fifth Element that have referenced the iconic fast-food brand, and then a swift cut to an image from Loki Season 2: Sylvie, portrayed by Sophia Di Martino, donning a McDonald’s uniform.
While the glimpse was brief, eagle-eyed fans caught the date “8.14.23” flashed on the screen, a not-so-subtle hint that something big was brewing.
https://twitter.com/McDonalds/status/1688567373811331073
And boy, did the sauce – or should we say, the tea – spill! Videos began circulating on TikTok, unveiling a new teal-green packaging for McDonald’s Sweet and Sour sauces. Brandished with the “Loki” logo and the tag “as featured in Marvel Studios’ Loki,” the sauce’s rebranding set the internet flame.
Unfortunately, whether it’s merely a packaging redesign or a new (hopefully spicy) concoction is yet to be unveiled.
However, McDonald’s isn’t just stopping at Loki-themed condiments. Enter the “As Featured In Meal” campaign, which is a nostalgic nod to pop culture moments where McDonald’s stole the spotlight, from films like Richie Rich to iconic series such as Friends and The Office. Yet, it’s the time-traveling trickster who seems to be the star attraction, with the Loki-branded sweet’n’sour sauce headlining the promotional gig.
In a delightful twist, fans can get a taste of the 1982 McDonald’s vibe, glimpsed in the Loki trailer, when a Brooklyn branch gets a retro makeover for three days from August 30. As if that’s not enough, an augmented reality experience on Snapchat awaits, serving exclusive Loki content, because why should the mischief be limited to just the TV screen?
Now, Marvel aficionados may be acquainted with Loki’s misadventures with the TVA and the multiverse. After the dramatic conclusion of the first season, where Sylvie altered the MCU’s very fabric, fans are eager to dive into the new season’s time-bending escapades. With the series slated for a Disney+ release on October 6, the collaboration’s timing feels both strategic and serendipitous.
For McDonald’s, this move isn’t just about tantalizing taste buds; it celebrates the brand’s timeless imprint on popular culture. From the opulence of Richie Rich’s personal McDonald’s to the countless references in iconic shows, the “As Featured In” campaign serves as a testament to McDonald’s enduring legacy in entertainment.
It’s not the first time pop culture has made a foray into fast-food menus. Remember last year’s Pokémon cards? How about the Mcdonald’s Chair? Or, what about the Super Mario Bros. Movie toys?
So, as the anticipation for Loki’s new adventures with the TVA builds, fans now have a tangy appetizer to satiate their Marvel cravings. With the McDonald’s collaboration, there’s a delightful blend of the whimsical and the epic, a combination that the Asgardian God himself would no doubt find fitting.
While it remains to be seen if the sauce’s taste matches the grandeur of its branding, one thing is sure: when the worlds of fast food and fantasy collide, it’s a feast not just for the palate, but for the soul.
As October nears, it seems like fans have more than one reason to mark their calendars.
