John Cena's Pecs Do Some Crazy Things in These New Hefty Ads

Strong trash bags at a low price point make John Cena's pecs dance with excitement in a new campaign for Hefty from Havas Worldwide Chicago. The new campaign also marks the return of the iconic "Hefty!, Hefty!, Hefty!," chant, used in the brand's marketing in the 1980s and a revival of the Hefty/Wimpy spots but for a modern audience. "It wasn't just about bringing the chant back, but it was about bringing it back and executing it in different fun and sharable ways," Ecole Weinstein, creative director, Havas Worldwide Chicago, told Adweek. John Cena stars in three spots demonstrating all the great things that can happen when you choose a box of Hefty trash bags over a competitor brand. In one spot, Cena grabs the Hefty box and hears that classic Hefty chant echoing from the grocery store ceiling. When actor Rob Schneider enters the scene and chooses a non-Hefty product, the reaction isn't quite what he would have hoped for. A second spot, "Pec Flex," is just as enjoyable, especially for the thirsty woman behind Cena in the check out line, watching the events unfold. A third spot, "Becoming Cena," also features Rob Schneider and again shows the stark difference between choosing Hefty's new Ultra Strong trash bags with Arm & Hammer odor control and some other product on the shelves. For the time being, the first two spots will run on TV and online, with "Becoming Cena" getting a digital and social push. Both Hefty and Cena will share the work from their respective social media accounts. Each of the three ads is meant to shake up the current trash bag category, injecting some humor into the conversation and hopefully bringing "cultural relevance to a not-so-glamorous category," Jason Peterson, chief creative officer, Havas Worldwide Chicago, said. The move to tap Cena for the campaign is also meant to open the category up to a wider range of consumers, not just moms. Plus, Cena felt like the perfect fit for a strong product by an all-American brand. "Hefty is an iconic American brand and Cena is very all-American. He's got this great strength so that's the perfect fit because Hefty has always been known for its superior strength," Weinstein said. CREDITS AGENCY: Chief Creative Officer, N.A: Jason Peterson Group Creative Director: École Weinstein Copywriter(s) Matt Bush, Alexis Carr Art director(s): Nat Loehr Co-Head of Production, N.A: Dave Evans Executive Producer: Brigette Whisnant Sr. Business Affairs Manager: Bonnie Hamilton Managing Director: Lisa Evia Account Supervisor: Kristy Hughes Assistant Account Executive: Matt McManus Project Manager: Katelin Randall Strategy: Michelle Gerstin, Martin Vogts Media VP Account Director: Shawn Mulroney, Bethany Whipple Media Supervisor: Amanda Smidt Media Planner: Kamila Kowalczuk, Denise Alvarez PRODUCTION COMPANY: Production Company: Smuggler – Los Angeles Director: Renny Maslow Executive Producer: Drew Santarsiero Line Producer: Rhonda Vernet Director of Photography: Bob Yeoman POST PRODUCTION: Editorial Company: Whitehouse Post, Studio 6- Chicago Sr. Editor: Dan Zabinski – Whitehouse Post Chicago Asst. Editor Kelsey Moher – Studio 6 Chicago, Ben Cline & Luke Sloma – Whitehouse Post Chicago Sr. Audio Engineer: Todd Beee – Studio 6 Chicago Executive Producer: Lauren Shawe – Studio 6 Chicago Post Producer: Kara Weinert – Studio 6 Chicago, Natalie Ksiazek – The Mill, Lauren Connolly – Whitehouse Post Chicago Colorist, company: Luke Morrison - The Mill Conform Artist, Company: Randy McEntee – The Mil Graphic Artist, Company: Colin Hess – The Mill Music Composer, Company: Marmoset

Brand Marketing

John Cena's Pecs Do Some Crazy Things in These New Hefty Ads

Plus, the return of the 'Hefty!' chant

Katie Richards

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Katie Richards