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.

In an epic of a spot for its Xfinity brand created by Goodby Silverstein & Partners and directed by Park Pictures‘ Lance Acord, the alien returns to earth at holiday time (appearing from behind a snowman) and surprises the children of a now grown-up 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.”

Credits:

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
Read the original piece here.