Add some more 1990s characters to the Super Bowl 2022 ad lineup. Mike Myers and Rob Lowe will reprise their roles from the “Austin Powers” movie franchise in a General Motors ad that is set to plug the automaker’s electric vehicle ambitions.
Myers shows up playing Dr. Evil in a video GM posted to its Instagram account today that uses the phrase “Evil is back for good,” and also the automaker’s “Everybody In” tagline that it has been using to plug its EVs.
Rob Lowe, who played the characters “Young Number Two” and “Middle Number Two” in the movies, is also set to appear. The actor teased the ad on his personal Instagram account.
McCann is handling the ad.
The use of the Austin Powers movies — which were released in 1997, 1999 and 2002 — continues a trend of nostalgic plays for the 2022 game. Earlier on Monday Verizon teased its Super Bowl ad with a video featuring Jim Carrey reprising his role from the 1996 movie “The Cable Guy.” McCann is also handling that ad.
GM also went the comedy-celebrity route last year, enlisting Will Ferrell and others to star in an ad that pushed the automaker’s new Ultium battery and used Norway as a foil, suggesting that the U.S. would catch up to the country in EV penetration.
Kia, Nissan and BMW are also pushing their EVs in Super Bowl ads.