Willem Dafoe and Catherine O'Hara Serve Up Ultimate Pickleball Hustle for Michelob ULTRA

Michelob ULTRA, a superior light beer known for championing an active and social lifestyle, is making its return to the Super Bowl stage, upping the ante with a new spot called, 'The ULTRA Hustle', harnessing the joy and spirit of friendly competition on and off the court.

Through the lens of the brand's new equity platform, 'Play For An ULTRA', this year's commercial focuses on the lengths competitors will go to win - because everyone knows friendly competition is more enjoyable if there's a Michelob ULTRA on the line.

Ricardo Marques, senior vice president of marketing for Michelob ULTRA, stated, "We're excited to challenge America to 'Play For An ULTRA' as we continue to champion a social and active lifestyle. 'Play For An ULTRA' is inspired by the competitive dynamic between friends and will run on the Super Bowl stage through to the rest of the year."

Following a fast start to the year with the debut of 'Play For An ULTRA' during the NFL Division and Conference Championships, Michelob ULTRA's Super Bowl campaign will continue to fuel the brand's commercial momentum, after recently hitting its #1 all-time high market share in 2024.

'The ULTRA Hustle'

In 'The ULTRA Hustle', Michelob ULTRA is bringing together superior names in sports and entertainment, including Academy Award nominee Willem Dafoe and Emmy Award winner Catherine O'Hara, with cameos alongside NFL legend Randy Moss, Olympic gold medallist Ryan Crouser and WNBA Champion Sabrina Ionescu in a fun-filled spot that celebrates the joy and spirit of friendly competition.

The 60-second spot from Wieden+Kennedy New York follows the iconic pairing of Willem and Catherine – as an unassuming duo who take to the pickleball court and dink, shake-n-bake, and hustle their way to beating the competition and collecting Michelob ULTRA. 

"For me, it was such a thrill to be a part of this Super Bowl commercial, so I have Michelob ULTRA to thank for making me feel very cool," said Catherine O'Hara. "I just know that people will see this and have a good laugh – Willem and I had such a good time hustling everyone on the pickleball court."

"When Michelob ULTRA came to me with the concept, I thought it was funny. I enjoyed the process of bringing this to life, especially working with Catherine," said Willem Dafoe. "I think people will get a kick out of it seeing us play the villains in a fun yet competitive environment."

'Play For An ULTRA'

For more than 20 years, Michelob ULTRA has been synonymous with championing an active lifestyle, encouraging social athletes to give it their all, whether it's their first time on the court or they're playing to fill the trophy cabinet.

'Play For An ULTRA' and 'The ULTRA Hustle' mark the beginning of what Michelob ULTRA has in store for 2025, with a new body of creative work. With 'Play For An ULTRA,' the brand invites 21+ fans to embrace the social athlete lifestyle and compete like pros across any field and court, because friendly competition means more when there's something to play for.

Michelob ULTRA is putting the 'Play' in 'Play For An ULTRA' by giving social athletes the chance to win superior fan experiences wherever they are. To compete, fans will need to look for ULTRA's roster of pros challenging their following on social media, turning the big game into a competition for everyone.