With the “Fast and Furious” spinoff movie “Hobbs & Shaw” coming to theaters in a few months, Brisk Iced Tea has teamed up with WWE superstar Roman Reigns for their new campaign.
Brisk Iced Tea ‘Can of Whup Ass’ and “Hobbs & Shaw” poster
Making his acting debut, Roman Reigns fights alongside Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Jason Statham in “Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw”. Roman has partnered up with Brisk Iced Tea to promote their new “Can of Whup’ Ass”, inspired by one of Dwayne Johnson’s lines in the movie. To create the advertisement, Brisk called on aspiring filmmakers to create their own digital ads to debut the ‘Can of Whup Ass’. Of all of the entries, the winning ad was from creator Evans Alexandre, who not only got his digital ad picked, but also received a summer mentorship with the “Hobbs & Shaw” director David Leitch.
Roman is a WWE superstar, a first-time actor in a giant blockbuster film, and an avid supporter of Leukemia and Pediatric Cancer research and charities. We got a chance to talk with Roman about all of these things, check out our exclusive interview below!
The Knockturnal: Firstly, I wanted to talk to you about your acting debut in “Hobbs & Shaw”. How was your experience filming for the first time in such a big movie?
Roman Reigns: It was pretty crazy, to be honest. I’m a huge movie fan so for me, seeing the whole production and the whole process for the first time. It was hard, a lot of the guys were laughing at me because it was my first time ever that I’m a part of this huge box office feature. The budget was gigantic, the sets were huge, and I spent a month in Hawaii, so it’s going to be hard to top this as my first movie.
The Knockturnal: What was it like fighting alongside The Rock and Jason Statham in that big group fight scene in the trailer?
Roman Reigns alongside Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson in “Hobbs & Shaw”
Roman Reigns: It was really neat. It was just like how you said it; just the fact that I was fighting next to Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham, that alone is amazing. But for me, for us to tie in our culture, the Samoan culture and to really bring that island energy to the big screen is something I will always take with me. The bonds that I had with all of those guys out there, it really did feel like they were my brothers and to be able to bond with all of these sons of the Pacific Ocean to come together and make this film was really neat.
The Knockturnal: You’re working with Brisk Iced Tea for their new digital ad campaign that ties in with the “Hobbs & Shaw” movie. Can you tell me about your involvement in the campaign?
Evans Alexandre and Roman Reigns on set for the Brisk Iced Tea ‘Can of Whup Ass’ digital ad.
Roman Reigns: I’m pretty much in the commercial and the big thing behind it was “Open up an ice cold can of whup’ ass” which is inspired by one of Dwayne’s lines in the movie, kind of one of the badass lines he says before one of the fight scenes. We kind of ran with that and what Brisk did was a pretty cool, they took ideas from young creators and wrote a nice little brochure story this “Can of Whup’ Ass” and it was pretty neat to be able to go out and hang out with Evans Alexandre and be able to connect with a younger creator, someone who- and I’m pretty much going to paint myself as an
old man here- but someone who is about a decade younger and be able to see the creativity between generation to generation. And to be able to also team up with Brisk and be able to put such a young talent on such a huge platform and to step back and see all of the gears turn and to see all of the interesting things he shot and the story he wrote. It was pretty cool and I was very proud to be a part of it.
The Knockturnal: Can you tell me about the ‘Can of Whup Ass’? Is it a new flavor or the actual design of the can?
Roman Reigns: It’s the original ice tea flavor, which is a huge hit in my household. I actually told the people on set a story about me and my cousin Bruce. We used to drink Brisk Iced Tea by the dozen and their mom used to get so mad whenever she would go by a case or a twelve pack. I mean we would not back two twelve pack three hours at a time with no problem at all. It’s definitely been like that in our house from a very age. But yeah, the same great flavor but a new look on the can. It feels like a whole new attitude as well which is pretty neat because it really comes from the influence of “Hobbs & Shaw”, so we’ve been able to build up a pretty cool story for that.
The Knockturnal: What initially enticed you to partner up with Brisk?
Roman Reigns: Well, anything that was going to continue to share a little bit of our culture and the film as well to tie that in. But once I had heard about what they were doing with young creators and just being able to tie back to young performers, I just don’t think you could ever learn enough or been a part of enough. So it was a great opportunity for me to be a part of a great partnership with Pepsi and Brisk and to continue the sponsorship with “Hobbs & Shaw”. Just a great opportunity to network with awesome people who are very passionate about what they do.
Brisk Iced Tea “Can of Whup Ass”
The Knockturnal: You are also a huge supporter of Leukemia and pediatric cancer research and charities. Can you talk about the charities you support and what they mean to you?
Roman Reigns: Well, you know, throughout the past few months and the past year, it’s been pretty heavily publicized with my health and the issues that I’ve had with leukemia and blood cancer. With everything that has gone on, I’ve just really been rallying on the support of everybody just giving me that love and that positive energy. I partnered up with LL Labs and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society; they’ve done so much for so many different people and so many different families. There’s still more to come in the future and I don’t want to give of that but I am very proud of what we’ve done thus far with t-shirt sales and merchandising and being able to give back, and for me, that’s kind of what it’s all about. I love performing, I love to be able to provide change and to have a new purpose, to be able to connect on a different level, and to be able to represent so many people who are struggling in the same area. Cancer is something so many families, if not every family in the world- definitely in our country- is affected by and it’s something that was just a very obvious choice for me to make, especially receiving all of that love and all that support, I just want to give everything that I can with the platforms and partnerships that I have to be able to spread a little bit of awareness and if I can shed a little bit of hope for someone who is struggling with the work that I’ve done, then my job is fulfilled. You know, it’s not just about entertaining people- now it’s helping them in many different ways as well.
Roman Reigns in the “Hobbs & Shaw” trailer.
The Knockturnal: So, you have an excellent career in WWE, winning several championships, you’ve made your acting debut in a huge blockbuster film, what’s next for you? Where do you see yourself heading in the future?
Roman Reigns: It’s been crazy and it’s been a bit of a rollercoaster ride and sometimes you feel like you’re on a rocket ship, but I think now, I’ve gotten the point where I have to just kind of enjoy it and just try living in the moment for a couple of years before it really gets fast and heavy. WWE sports and tournaments, its rough on the body so I really just want to loosen up in the few years that I have being in the shape that I am in. My joints are still good, my knees and back feel good, so I just want to be able to really take the time dive into this live performance and enjoy it as much as possible before I move on to the next step and the next phase whatever that is. And more family life in general, I just want to be able to take advantage of this fantastic career that I left and support my family. Just continue to lay bricks down on the foundation that my family has done in wrestling sports and tournaments. Once I’ve had enough, I think I’ll have enough closure to move on and experience all of these cool opportunities. Right now I’m just really enjoying the moment
The specially made ‘Cans of Whup Ass’ will be available for consumers through sweepstakes, on Brisk social media, at ComplexCon in Chicago, and at select retail activations and early screenings of “Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw” throughout the country this summer. See Roman in the digital ad for Brisk’s ‘Can of Whup Ass’ and the “Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw” trailer below!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Bu6r9P11TU&feature=youtu.be
