With every major video game release, fans expect a big ad filled with celebrities who don’t necessarily represent the everyday players. So to launch Battlefield 6 launch film, the team at Electronic Arts and Mother Los Angeles are doing the exact same thing…

…with a clever twist that highlights the rise of the real heroes of Battlefield 6 – the everyday players.

The partners are bringing Battlefield 6 squads to life with the help of actor and producer, Zac Efron; 6x NBA All-Star, Jimmy Butler; chart topper, Morgan Wallen; and MMA fighter, Paddy Pimblett. The star power allows the launch film to deliver a cinematic spectacle that blends gritty military realism – with unexpected humour and swagger.

Don’t worry, all four celebrities were in on the joke and up for the twist, set up by a series of social teasers exclaiming, “It’s good to be back,” “I don’t talk trash, I take it out,” and “I’m the problem.”

“If you look at the state of first-person shooters, and then what Battlefield 6 is, this idea felt like a no-brainer. Players want to feel like they’re actually in that world. So it became as simple as ‘make fans think we’re hopping on the same bandwagon, and then blow up that notion to make room for a more grounded and true Only in Battlefield film’,” stated Joey Johnson, creative director at Mother LA.

The TV premiere for the live-action film was during the NFL’s Sunday Night Football (Sept 28) primetime game between the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers.

“We’re so excited for the launch of Battlefield 6.  And, we’ve got a fantastic campaign that showcases the Only in Battlefield moments that our brand is built on,” stated Anthony Stevenson, SVP, entertainment marketing and publishing, Electronic Arts. “Squads are everything in Battlefield, and we love that this film puts them at the forefront working together to accomplish the objective, just like our players do in-game…all set up by some blockbuster talent to help tell the story.”

“If you look at the state of first-person shooters, and then what Battlefield 6 is, this idea felt like a no-brainer. Players want to feel like they’re actually in that world. So it became as simple as ‘make fans think we’re hopping on the same bandwagon, and then blow up that notion to make room for a more grounded and true Only in Battlefield film,” stated Joey Johnson, creative director at Mother LA.

“I was particularly drawn to this script because it has two elements that I love – humour and scale,” commented director, Simon McQuoid. “And my process is to balance those two elements all the time. This was a unique idea because we lead with a misdirect and the humor is up front, then from that point on it needs to back up the claim that only this sort of battle authenticity happens in Battlefield. It was one of the most enjoyable productions I have ever been a part of, because everyone wanted the same thing from the start: scale, authentic warfare and all with a sense of fun and awe mixed with it. I wanted the explosions to not just be big, but also feel utterly real, dirty and chaotic. I love the intensity of the game, so it was important that we matched that same energy.”

Credits
Client: Electronic Arts
Creative Agency: Mother Los Angeles
Director: Simon McQuoid
Production: Imperial Woodpecker
VFX: Framestore
Finishing + Color: Trafik
Local Production: Lions TV
Music Composition: 2WEI
Mix: Lime
Edit: Trim Editing
Motion Design: OPEN DOME
Photography: Kaito Studio