COMCAST REUNITES E.T. AND ELLIOTT AT LAST IN A HEARTWARMING THANKSGIVING SPOT
Actor Henry Thomas reprises his childhood role in ad for Xfinity and Sky
There never has been a movie sequel to Steven Spielberg’s movie classic “E.T.” But now Comcast has brought us one in the form of an ad that reunites the extra terrestrial with his human friend, Elliott.
Actor Henry Thomas, who played Elliott in the Spielberg film, reprises his role, embracing his childhood friend in a moment that might make you well up if you loved the original movie. The family introduces E.T. to some 21st century Comcast tech, including connecting to the internet via Xfinity and using an Xfinity remote to watch holiday movies. Then E.T. is off back to his spaceship again, not before reprising the iconic bicycle ride across the skies from the original. The final message is about the importance of “connecting” during the holidays.
The ad was made in connection with Universal Pictures, part of the Comcast empire, and, according to Variety, had the blessing of Steven Spielberg himself.
The company debuted a two minute version of the spot during the Macy’s Thanksgiving parade broadcast on NBC, while the four minute version seen here will live online. While it will run as an ad promoting Xfinity in the U.S, in the U.K. Germany and Italy the spot will promote the Sky brand, which is now also part of Comcast.
Jeff Goodby, co-chairman, Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, says in a statement: “People don’t care about technology inherently. They care about the way it connects them to other people. This story is an emotional reunion between two characters we know and love. It’s a perfect story for the holidays at a time when our emotions are very close to the surface.”
Date: Dec 02, 2019
- Client:
- Xfinity
- Agency:
- Goodby Silverstein & Partners
- SVP Brand Marketing & Communications:
- Peter Intermaggio
- SVP Brand Marketing:
- Todd Arata
- Vice President Brand Marketing:
- Dustin Hayes
- Senior Director Brand and Experiential Marketing:
- Rose Holden
- Senior Manager Brand Marketing:
- Kristen Smith
- Executive Director Social Marketing:
- Nader Ali-Hassan
- Senior Manager Social Marketing:
- Beth McDermott
- Social Marketing & Community Manager:
- Lacey Ketchell
- Co-Chairmen:
- Jeff Goodby
- Co-Chairmen:
- Rich Silverstein
- Chief Creative Officer:
- Margaret Johnson
- Executive Creative Director:
- Jim Elliott
- Creative Director:
- Tristan Graham
- Creative Director:
- Felipe Lima
- Creative Director:
- Roger Baran
- Associate Creative Director:
- Ricardo Uribe
- Associate Creative Director:
- Eduardo Quadra
- Art Director:
- Jennifer Fisher
- Art Director:
- Hans Schenck
- Copywriter:
- Anthony Pagaza
- Copywriter:
- Guy Olson
- Copywriter:
- Sam Dworkin
- Art Director:
- Neha Guria
- Art Director:
- Mike Rodriguez
- Design Director:
- Ryan Self
- Designer:
- Benny Gold
- Designer:
- Pedro Zuccolini
- Managing Partner:
- Leslie Barrett
- Executive Group Account Director:
- Chad Bettor
- Account Director:
- Kirsten Tsitsos
- Account Manager:
- Lauren Berry
- Assistant Account Manager:
- Sara Jane Stevens
- Account Director:
- Tom Powers
- Account Manager:
- Katie Freedman
- Assistant Account Manager:
- Sarah Thomas
- Partner Head of Brand Strategy:
- Bonnie Wan
- Partner Head of Communication Strategy:
- Christine Chen
- Director of Brand Strategy:
- John Thorpe
- Group Strategy Director:
- Katie Coane
- Communication Strategy Director:
- Maren Severtson
- Group Director Research Data & Analytics Strategist:
- Cassi Husain
- Communication Strategist:
- Rosie Kerstetter
- Senior Data & Analytics Strategist: :
- Tony Vinella
- Brand Strategist:
- Madison Cameron
- Junior Communication Strategist:
- Taylor Bell
- Executive Producer:
- James Horner
- Agency Producer:
- Kateri McLucas
- Assistant Producer:
- Lily Durston
- Executive Producer:
- Danielle Riccardi
- Producer:
- Megan Monticone
- Director of Business Affairs:
- Judy Ybarra
- Production Company:
- Park Pictures
- Director/DP:
- Lance Acord
- Executive Producer:
- Jackie Kelman Bisbee
- Executive Producer:
- Scott Howard
- Producer:
- Caroline Kousidonis
- Editorial Company:
- Exile
- Editor:
- Kirk Baxter
- Assistant Editor:
- Zaldy Lopez
- Head of Production:
- Jennifer Locke
- Executive Producer:
- CL Weaver
- Post Producer:
- Brittany Carson
- Editor:
- Conor O’Neill
- Post Producer:
- Michael Miller
- Videographer:
- Andrew Butte
- BTS Photographer:
- Benzo Theodore
- Practical Effects Company:
- Legacy Effects
- Co-Owner/Puppeteer:
- Alan Scott
- Puppeteer:
- Robert Ramsdell
- Puppeteer:
- Richard Galinson
- Puppeteer:
- Anthony Venuto
- Puppeteer:
- Chris Grossnickle
- Puppeteer:
- Walter Phelan
- Audio and Sound Design Company:
- Lime Studios
- Sound Designer:
- Michael Anastasi
- Sound Design Assistant:
- Kai Paquin
- Audio Mixer:
- Matt Miller
- Audio Assistant:
- Ian Connie
- Executive Producer:
- Susie Boyajan
- Producer:
- Kayla Phungglan
- Producer:
- Megan Hernandez
- VFX Company:
- A52
- VFX Supervisor:
- Patrick Murphy
- CG Supervisor:
- Andrew Romatz
- 2D VFX Artist:
- Andy McKenna
- 2D VFX Artist:
- Andy Barrios
- 2D VFX Artist:
- Urs Furrer
- 2D VFX Artist:
- Stefan Gaillot
- 2D VFX Artist:
- Matt Sousa
- 2D VFX Artist:
- Steve Wolff
- 2D VFX Artist:
- Richard Hirst
- 2D VFX Artist:
- Adam Flynn
- 2D VFX Artist:
- Michael Vaglienty
- 2D VFX Artist:
- Enid Dalkoff
- 2D VFX Artist:
- Patrick Poulatian
- 2D VFX Artist:
- Shauna Prescott
- 2D VFX Artist:
- Kevin Stokes
- 2D VFX Artist:
- Chris Riley
- 2D VFX Artist:
- James Buongiorno
- 3D Artist:
- Ariana Ziae Mohseni
- 3D Artist:
- Caleb Ollivant
- 3D Artist:
- Aemilia Widodo
- 3D Artist:
- Josh Dyer
- 3D Artist:
- Jaemin Lee
- 3D Artist:
- Mike Di Nocco
- 3D Artist:
- Quinton Woodson
- 3D Artist:
- Evan Mayfield
- 3D Artist:
- Sarah Wolfe
- 3D Artist:
- Dustin Mellum
- 3D Artist:
- Tim Kadowaki
- 3D Artist:
- Joao Rosa
- 3D Artist:
- Robert Kim
- 3D Artist:
- Colton Smrz
- 3D Artist:
- Michael Cardenas
- 3D Artist:
- Greg Gutkin
- 3D Artist:
- Joe Paniagua
- 3D Artist:
- Tom Briggs
- 3D Artist:
- Bryan Cox
- 3D Artist:
- Paulo deAlmada
- 3D Artist:
- Jose Limon
- Matte Painter:
- Ram Bhat
- Matte Painter:
- Jie Zhou
- Matte Painter:
- Zach Mandt
- Tracking:
- Joe Chiechi
- Tracking:
- Michael Bettinardi
- Tracking:
- Michael Cardenas
- Tracking:
- Joey Bettinardi
- Online Editor:
- Chris Riley
- Online Editor:
- Sam Kolber
- Online Editor:
- John Valle
- Producer:
- Michael Steinmann
- Producer:
- Jillian Lynes
- Executive Producer:
- Patrick Nugent
- Executive Producer:
- Kim Christensen
- Managing Director:
- Jennifer Sofio Hall
- Design Studio:
- Elastic
- Creative Director:
- Nadia Tzuo
- Animator & Compositor:
- Steven Do
- Animator & Compositor:
- Trix Taylor
- Animator & Compositor:
- Brian Hayes
- Animator & Compositor:
- Jim Pearce
- 3D Generalist:
- Dustin Mellum
- 3D Generalist:
- Bryan Cox
- Producer:
- Jazeel Gayle
- Executive Producer:
- Luke Colson
- Head of Production:
- Kate Berry
- Managing Director:
- Jennifer Sofio Hall
- Colorist:
- Gregory Reese
- Color Assistant:
- Corey Martinez
- Color Assistant:
- Aaron Flickinger
- Color Assistant:
- Dylan Bursick
- Color Producer:
- Jenny Bright
- Executive Producer:
- Thatcher Peterson