US Ad of the Day: Live action short promotes Blizzard Entertainment’s new Diablo IV game

The new film, titled ‘Saviors wanted,’ was devised by creative agency 72andSunny, shot by Oscar winning director Chloé Zhao and co-director Kiku Ohe. Zhao is the first woman of Asian descent to ever win an Oscar (specifically, the Golden Globe Award for Best Director for the 2020 drama, Nomadland).

In the 60-second film, townspeople are terrorized by a dark and evil force. They call on Diablo fans to “deliver [them] from evil,“ as an ominous, demonic woman appears behind a young boy. He urges the viewer to hurry.

“Working with Blizzard, we had the wonderful opportunity to bring the dark, thrilling and imaginative world of Diablo IV to life,” Zhao said in a statement shared with The Drum. “Diablo fans are very passionate, and many have been with the game for over two decades. We want to do right by the fans, honor the game’s rich lores and visceral world building while evoking the strong emotions the players feel while immersing in the game.”

The film launched yesterday in over 20 different countries across North America, Europe, The Middle East, Africa andthe Asia Pacific. In the US, it runs on linear broadcast TV along with premium digital, social and streaming media.

“Bringing to life one of gaming’s darkest and most revered franchises is both a huge responsibility to the fans and a once in a lifetime experience,“ Tim Wolfe, group creative director at 72andSunny, said in a statement. “I mean, when are you going to get to recreate a blood-soaked, demon-riddled hellscape with a Oscar-winning director again? I can’t wait for Diablo V.”

Credits

Agency: 72andSunny

Production: Superprime

Editorial: Work Editorial

Color: Company 3

VFX/post-production: The Mill

Sound design/mix: Lime

Music composition: Walker

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