Captain Marvel Soars With WNBA, Marketing Partners, Intl. Women’s Day
By Barry Janoff
February 17, 2019: Captain Marvel is coming to theaters, and so too are a bevy of marketing partners ready to take flight to support the movie and its release.
Among the brands: Hasbro, Lego, Funko, USopoly, New Era, Schwinn, Citizen Watch, Stance, Alaska Airlines, the WNBA and Marvel itself.
The WNBA might have the most organic ties to the film, which is the first time Marvel has released a movie fronted by a female superhero (two years after DC Comics’ Wonder Woman).
A multi-media campaign that launched in conjunction with NBA All-Star Weekend is anchored by a "WNBA x Captain Marvel" 30-second spot, which aligns Brie Larson’s Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel character with WNBA stars.
As we see shots of such WNBA players as Diana Turasi and A’Ja Wilson in action, a voiceover in the spot says, “We all have something to fight for. Something that calls us to lead. The question is: How will you get it done?” Text: Discover what makes her . . . a hero.”
The spot, created in-house, will run on NBA and WNBA media partners such as ESPN, ABC TNT and across NBA-WNBA media platforms including NBA TV and NBA.com, in addition to YouTube and other social media destinations.
According to the WNBA, “In partnership with Marvel, the WNBA highlights superhero moves of players alongside those of Captain Marvel, proving to young girls that grit, power and strength can make a hero.”
Captain Marvel debuts in theaters on International Women’s Day, March 8.
The WNBA season starts May 24, 2019.
In support of the movie and International Women’s Day, We Have Stories is powering a #CaptainMarvelChallenge and site on GoFundMe.com in conjunction with Girls Inc. of Greater Los Angeles, to raise money to send girls who might not be able to afford to travel and attend, to see the movie.
We Have Stories is a non-profit organization that “provides financial grants for resources and support to storytellers and content creators from diverse communities to help increase positive representation of these groups in media.”
Girls Inc. of Greater Los Angeles said it serves girls in Title I schools in South Los Angeles, Watts and Compton, “many of whom are considered ‘at risk’ through no fault of their own.”
Beyond the hoops court, the movie literally has taken to the air via Alaska Airlines, which earlier this month unveiled an aircraft repainted with Captain Marvel imagery.
"Our collaboration with Alaska Airlines is taking our fans 'Higher, Further, Faster' with this amazing opportunity to fly with our fearless Super Hero and pilot, Captain Marvel," Mindy Hamilton, svp-global partnerships for Marvel, said via the company.
"We are so excited that our fans will be accompanied by Carol Danvers on their next adventure."
Among other key tie-ins (in alphabetical order):
• Alex & Ani jewelry.
• Bioworld handbags.
• Citizen Watch watches.
• Diff sunglasses.
• Funko keychains, pencil toppers, toys and other accessories.
• Hasbro action figures and accessories.
• HerUniverse jackets and dresses.
• Invicta watches.
• Lego building sets (pictured). A company promo offers, “Fly with Captain Marvel and Nick Fury to rescue Goose the cat from Talos the Skrull! Fire four missiles at once with each of the jet’s flick-missile shooters and attack with Captain Marvel's power energy. Then grab Goose, place her in the back of the jet and fly away!”
• Marvel has issued a new series of Captain Marvel comics, movie posters. books and other collectibles.
• New Era hats and wool caps.
• Schwinn bicycle (pictured).
• Stance socks.
• USopoly game Captain Marvel: Secret Skrulls (pictured).
Captain Marvel stars Brie Larson (Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel), Samuel L Jackson (Nick Fury), Ben Mendelsohn (Talos), Clark Gregg (Phil Coulson) and Lashana Lynch (Maria Rambeau).
Back to Home Page