Walmart revealed its collaboration with Dr. Suess Enterprises for its holiday campaign back in October, set in the magical world of “WhoKnewVille.” Today, the retailer shared that the Grinch of this Suess-like land is none other than actor Walton Goggins.
Appearing in the run-up to Black Friday and Cyber Monday, “Mt. Crumpit | Walmart Black Friday Deals” was created in partnership with a collection of Publicis Groupe agencies including Fallon, Leo NY, the Community, Contender, and Digitas, and was directed by Marc Webb of RadicalMedia.
The two-and-a-half-minute hero film sees Mindy Lou Who visiting the Grinch to seek his help in spreading the word about the retailer’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday offers.
Initially reluctant, and despite a couple of setbacks including getting stuck in a chimney and a painful interaction with Lego bricks, the Grinch soon gets in the festive mood.
The story is set in the dreamlike environment of WhoKnewVille, created by Walmart and Dr. Seuss Enterprises, and blessed with a lead performance that, in classic Goggins style, manages to be both intense and funny.
The spot is the latest Walmart holiday ad to put a pop-culture spin on festive celebrations, after last year’s Gilmore Girls-inspired ad and a Mean Girls reunion in 2023.
Goggins, who found himself at the center of viral social discussion about his apparent likeness to the Christmas-hating, furry green creature, said he was “excited” to again partner with Walmart, after his appearance in the retail brand’s “Who Knew” campaign earlier in the summer.
“When I got the invitation to go on this journey with Walmart, to step into the green, furry shoes of this iconic literary figure, it was a bit overwhelming,” he said in a statement. “Making something like this your own is no easy task. But even considering the risk, the opportunity to do so was too thrilling to pass up.