Pickleball Hustlers: Willem Dafoe and Catherine O’Hara Star in Michelob Ultra’s Super Bowl Ad

Michelob Ultra has upped its game for the Super Bowl with an all-star cast and a hilariously absurd campaign. In “The Ultra Hustle,” Willem Dafoe and Catherine O’Hara don matching track suits and take to the pickleball courts as a cunning duo hustling for rounds of Michelob Ultra. Their challengers? Sports legends like Randy Moss, Sabrina Ionescu, and Ryan Crouser. The result is a mix of humor, intimidation, and charm that makes this ad stand out on the crowded Super Bowl stage.

Michelob Ultra’s approach blends star power, humor, and its product as the centerpiece. The campaign doesn’t just showcase the beer; it integrates it into the story, with Dafoe and O’Hara using pickleball games to win rounds of Ultras. Ricardo Marques, Michelob Ultra’s VP of Marketing, emphasized the importance of relatability and humor in breaking through the noise of Super Bowl ads. The chemistry between the two stars, paired with their ability to be “likable yet a little dangerous,” delivers the perfect balance of entertainment and product placement.

The fun doesn’t stop with the commercial. Michelob Ultra is extending the campaign into the real world with “Play for an Ultra,” a partnership with DoorDash allowing players to gift their opponents a six-pack of Ultras after a match. This ties the ad’s playful tone to a tangible action, reinforcing Michelob Ultra’s identity as a brand that celebrates camaraderie and fun. As Michelob Ultra continues its rise as the second-largest beer brand in the U.S., this Super Bowl spot sets the tone for a big year ahead.