Allstate’s New Campaign Takes a Dark Detour

By Kiran Aditham 

So much for the “Good Hands” and the soothing presence of actor Dennis Haysbert. Leo Burnett Chicago has flipped the script in its new campaign for Allstate, which introduces us to “Mayhem,” played by Oz and 30 Rock alum Dean Winters.

The mischievous and menacing nature of Winters’ Ryan O’ Riley character from Oz is somewhat evident in this ad, in which the actor personifies auto-related problems like a car door getting keyed or an auto colliding with a wild deer. It’s a little creepy, but the stark change is Allstate’s way of being “disruptive” and fulfills the brand’s “need to experiment with new things” according to comments made by its CMO Mark LaNeve to the New York Times.

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Still, the NYT adds that Haysbert is not being replaced by Winters, and the former 24 star is still a “strong asset” for Allstate. Whatever the case, we kinda dig the temporary switch-up.

Video via MTLB

More: “Former 24 President Goes Bilingual in New Allstate Ad

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