Deadpool marketing gets even weirder with emoji poo billboard
20th Century Fox has made the brave decision to market the impending release of its Deadpool movie by erecting a billboard featuring merely a skull, a poo emoji and the letter L in Los Angeles.
Facing a difficult task in marketing the irreverent, foul-mouthed anti-hero Deadpool for the movie’s February release, fans of the comic have been greeted with a bizarre and true-to-the-comic push from the studio.
The movie, based on the Marvel comicbook character, will air in the US 12 February. The campaign caught the attention of Comedian Patton Oswalt who congratulated those responsible for the ad.
This idiotic/brilliant billboard is why I'm all in on the DEADPOOL movie. I'm an easy lay. pic.twitter.com/jSRorPvaCp
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) January 13, 2016
The billboard follows the official Deadpool Twitter account choosing to parody the Valentine’s Day movie cliché with a poster which in no way will represent the final movie.
The bait and switch received widespread coverage with many congratulating the studio for the bold bait and switch.
This Valentine’s Day, fall in love with #Deadpool. pic.twitter.com/ScQWrpXXmx
— Deadpool Movie (@deadpoolmovie) January 11, 2016
This Valentine’s Day, witness 50 Shades of Slay. #Deadpool pic.twitter.com/hIQ68O92RO
— Deadpool Movie (@deadpoolmovie) January 12, 2016
A love for which is worth killing. #Deadpool pic.twitter.com/d3jQdKSmOZ
— Deadpool Movie (@deadpoolmovie) January 12, 2016
When trying to get a movie noticed, studios have in the past got creative.
Before the release of Antman in 2015, Disney scattered tiny billboards throughout Australian cities – the campaign was first picked up on Reddit and other social media channels before receiving coverage in the mainstream media.