It was announced, earlier this year, that – vis-à-vis Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens – LucasFilm was entering into a septet of promotional partnerships, with some of the biggest companies in the galaxy. 

On the automobile front, there’s FCA US (better known as FIAT Chrysler Automobiles), that has produced a series of co-branded television ads (and YouTube videos) for five of their brands: Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram Trucks, and FIAT.  Of these, I cracked-up when I saw the Dodge ad (set to the Imperial March, with a coffee-cart called “Java the Hutt” and a Chewbacca-styled Pekingese.  Furthermore, I love that Fiat went whole-hog, with the Fiat 500e (inspired by the First Order Legion) that was displayed at last month’s LA Auto Show.

Duracell is powering everything from smoke detectors to vibrators; as can be seen in the Star Wars-themed commercial for their Quantum batteries.

Next, it’s all about the kids, with General Mills; who has put their cover-characters into Star Wars-drag.  Honey Nut Cheerios’ BuzzBee is dressed as Darth Vader; while Trix’s Rabbit is dolled-up as Princess Leia; and Chip the Wolf wears Stormtrooper armor, on the Family-size box of Cookie Crisp (available exclusively at Walmart).  The collectable boxes contain six different Droid Viewers (though the image on the box is not necessarily the Droid contained, inside).  And for lucky Target shoppers, specially marked boxes of Cinnamon Toast Crunch contain a limited-edition BB-8 Droid Viewer.

Verizon is offering Virtual Reality boxes (that utilize Google Cardboard) that are themed as BB-8, R2D2, Kylo Rea, and Stormtrooper – and are available exclusively for Verizon customers.

Meanwhile, HP (you know – the company that fired Republican Presidential hopeful Carly Fiorini, before she went-on to lose the California Senate race?) wants customers to release their inner Sith Lords, with the Star Wars Special Edition Notebook, featuring a Full HD touchscreen, Intel Core processor, red backlit keyboard, and audio by Bang & Olufsen.  Also – it looks pretty damned cool.

Subway is offering a number of promotional tie-ins, including messenger bags (8 of them) in which the Kids Meals are served, with a glowstick lightsaber; a series of The Force Awakens collectible cups; and bigger merchandise prizes that one can win through participation in a no-purchase-necessary contest.

And who could forget about Covergirl and Max Factor, who launched an entire cosmetics line, based on the looks in the film?  Soul-singing beauty, Janelle Monae even appears in the campaign, as a Resistance Pilot!  I’m not sure how many Daphne Guinness wannabes are getting into Droid-drag, but it’s a great campaign.

When all is said and done, though; it’s all about getting butts in the seats, when Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens hits theaters, this month!

Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Opening December 17th
Click HERE for info and trailer

Get into it!
#StarWars