Luxury car brand Lexus takes us inside their afro-futuristic world, complete with the brand’s first fully-electric vehicle, the Lexus RZ 450e, in their new marketing campaign, An Electric Future.
The campaign includes a 90-second long form video, starring Black Panther: Wakanda Forever actress Danai Gurira and the elite group of all-woman warriors, the Dora Milaje. The ad campaign marks the third partnership between Lexus and Marvel Studios. In the 90-second spot, directed by award-winning filmmaker and Marvel and Lexus ad alum Anthony Leonardi III, viewers will be part of an exhilarating ride through the afro-futuristic streets of Wakanda, led by General Okoye (played by actress Danai Gurira) and the Dora Milaje, in the , as they battle their enemies.
Debuting globally on October 11, An Electric Future, is part of an integrated marketing campaign with placements across various mediums. See photos inside…
Quick thinking, a spear and the all-new, very agile, 2023 Lexus RZ 450e is all you need when you’re the formidable Dora Milaje, evading a host of villainous pursuers. Marvel Studios fans and car enthusiasts can buckle up and take a ride with the squad of Wakandan warriors as Lexus debuts its marketing campaign, including a long-form video, “An Electric Future,” featuring the luxury brand’s first-ever battery electric vehicle. The marketing campaign marks Lexus’ third collaboration with a Marvel Studios property ahead of the release of Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” in theaters November 11.
While the Lexus LC 500 Convertible and the Lexus GX make appearances in the actual film, the 90-second collaboration video takes viewers on an exhilarating ride set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe with members of Wakanda’s all-female Royal Guard, the Dora Milaje, led by General Okoye (played by Danai Gurira). The audience follows the elite trio as they nimbly navigate pursuers in the Lexus RZ – a luxurious, technologically advanced vehicle fit for everyone.
“By returning to our successful relationship with Marvel Studios for the highly anticipated sequel to ‘Black Panther’ we are taking this collaboration to another level,” said Vinay Shahani, Lexus vice president of marketing. “The technology, creativity, and imagination we encounter in the futuristic nation of Wakanda is a natural fit for the sustainable, global society Lexus envisions with the introduction of our most advanced vehicle ever, the fully-electric RZ 450e, further extending our electrified vehicle portfolio.”
“The power, elegance, and future-forward vision of the Lexus brand aligns perfectly with the Black Panther franchise. We couldn’t be happier to team up with Lexus once again to bring an action-packed story and supporting 360 campaign to life,” said Mindy Hamilton, Senior Vice President of Global Partnership Marketing at The Walt Disney Company.
Lexus’ collaboration with “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” and the ad creation is being led by Lexus’ agency of record for Black, Hispanic and LGBTQ+ audiences, Walton Isaacson. The commercial was directed by Anthony Leonardi III, an award-winning, fourth-generation filmmaker who is no stranger to Marvel or Lexus having been involved with Marvel Studios’ “Avengers: Endgame” and the Lexus “Parking Spot” ad in support of Marvel Studios “Eternals.”
“I hope people watch the ad and feel like they are in a great movie. For each Lexus spot, I treat the vehicle like a character, so like a Marvel character, the RZ 450e is the hero. It is the star,” said Leonardi. “I hope viewers feel like they are along for the ride.”
When asked about her involvement in the ad, Gurira said, “It’s very cool to be a part of the Lexus campaign and it’s been a great experience for exploring my character in a way that I haven’t before. We got to delve into a whole other narrative while discovering how a new electric Lexus is about to impact the world. I love that combination, so it’s been awesome.”
“An Electric Future” will be featured in an integrated marketing campaign, with placements across a variety of media platforms including broadcast, digital, advanced TV, and social channels.
For more information, visit www.lexus.com/
