SOLO Offers up the Next STAR WARS-Inspired VehicleSince the dawn of film, radio, and television the power of advertising revenue has had a major influence in the outcome of films. Through either strategic product placement, corporate sponsorship or well-timed media campaigns, the entertainment industry as a whole is just another means by which companies compel us to buy their product(s). But years ago, it was easier to identify those attempts, with the advertising elements in film and TV incorporated in a more blatant fashion. Nowadays, the attempts are far more subtle and are even creative to the point where they provide another level of entertainment. Consider if you will, the fact that commercials tend to be more entertaining than they were 20 or more years ago. Clever, in many cases funny, and usually well-produced, they are far more bearable than commercials of yesteryear (even if digital streaming allows us to bypass them). Even custom SnapChat and Facebook filters allow us to up our social media game, with photo filters that help to promote a movie or series in a fun and silly way. Take SOLO: A Star Wars Story for example, as it has enabled a SnapChat users to transform themselves into Chewbacca just for laughs! But speaking of Star Wars, the franchise has never been a stranger to cross-marketing. Recently, however, the Disney-acquired property has led to some really innovative efforts, such as when Rogue One was released, and Nissan offered a specially modified edition of their crossover which was a partial namesake of the film. Now, it appears as though General Motors is positioning the 2018 Buick Encore vs. 2018 Nissan Rogue, in an attempt to grab the title of best Star Wars-inspired vehicle. And this time, the inspiration comes from none other than Lando Calrissian.
Introduced in 1980’s “The Empire Strikes Back” the character of Lando Calrissian had been a notorious smuggler, turned administrator of Bespin (aka “Cloud City”). A former associate of (Harrison Ford’s) Han Solo, Lando (played by super-suave Billy Dee Williams) was a smooth operator who seemed to be playing both sides for his own benefit, before eventually affirming himself as a hero.
Now, the character is receiving new life (courtesy of equally-suave Donald Glover) with SOLO portraying the character in his younger, smuggling days. And Buick seems eager to cash in on everything that Calrissian is worth, based on the following statement from Mark Reuss, Executive VP of Global Product Development for General Motors.
“From 1980-1983, Billy Dee Williams’ original portrayal of Lando Calrissian gave mainstream audiences a taste of urban black culture, juxtaposed against the cosmos, proving that integration of all cultures was an important aspect of any futurist perspective. Lando carried with him the swagger of Blaxploitation stars, with the accessibility of a Colt 45 malt liquor commercial; and one could easily picture him in the backseat of a sleek Buick sedan with a beautiful lady (or equivalently-appealing alien) on each side.”
“So, if Lando is receiving an encore courtesy of SOLO, we feel that he should receive one from Buick as well, courtesy of the Special Edition 2018 Buick Encore Calrissian. We will only be producing 100 of these unique vehicles, solely due to the fact that producing more would cripple the global “crushed velvet” industry.”
Yes, the entire interior is lined with retro crushed-velvet, emulating the 1970’s vibe most commonly associated with the character’s origin.
“Other features will be receptacles for alcoholic containers, including built-in icemakers. The infotainment system will include a wide array of porn-streaming options, as well as the complete musical libraries of Curtis Mayfield, Marvin Gaye, Otis Redding, Barry White, Sade, John Legend and Childish Gambino. Owners will also receive complimentary monthly subscriptions for deliveries of Trojan condoms and Rohypnol (“just in case”) as well as monthly cleaning services from DNARemovers.
“Here at Buick, we want to remind drivers that we have a place in the future. And that place is helping 100 lucky Americans to “get their fuck on” Lando Calrissian-style.”
