To say football is a big deal in the Fanning household might be an understatement. As Elle Fanning (A Complete Unknown, Predator: Badlands) recalls, her grandfather, Rick Arrington, was a quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles back in the 1970s. So when the new year rolled around, the Super Bowl would be on TV.
Now Fanning will make her Super Bowl debut, starring alongside Andy Samberg in a commercial for Hellmann’s Mayonnaise.
“It’s something that, for me, is really like uniting with my family,” Fanning tells The Hollywood Reporter in an interview. “It’s something that we’ve always done together and love to talk about, and it really brings us all together in that way. It’s just something that is very special to get to be a part of, and have my face up there this year.”
As with last year’s Hellmann’s Super Bowl spot, the 2026 ad takes place in a deli. But while last year’s spot leaned on the nostalgia of When Harry Met Sally, this year’s ad leans on absurdity, with Samberg channeling his Lonely Island days to portray “Meal Diamond,” a not-so-subtle not to Neil Diamond, singing a song about mayo and sandwiches, with Fanning as an enthralled customer.
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“Last year’s spot was so clever and so funny, and almost said with a wink, it was very cheeky and just very clever. When Harry Met Sally is such an iconic film, and I felt like that that spot was very iconic and super memorable,” Fanning says. “With Super Bowl commercials, everyone’s trying to have one that’s going to make a splash and impact and be memorable, and so I feel like this year, I hope we’ll do just the same.”
Fanning says that the decision to do the spot was an easy call, not only because of the fun concept, but because of the actual product: “Mayonnaise can be a controversial topic at times, people either like it or they don’t,” she says “I love mayonnaise, and I put it on everything, so it was kind of perfect for me.”
If you’re curious, the Fanning household has a spinach dip that uses the condiment, in addition to the more classic use case on bread. “A sandwich would be my last meal,” she says.
But she also says that Samberg’s wholehearted embrace of the concept brought her in, bringing a little bit of his SNL energy to set.
“I have to say, it was a really joyous, fun day for for me, Andy I’d never met Andy before, and he was so kind,” she recalls. “He was, you know, throwing out little ideas… it was very fast paced and I got to be really funny and kind of go big and and respond to what he was doing. So I really enjoyed bouncing off of him in that way, and getting to watch him in action, and see his talent in action, was super cool.”
“‘Sweet Caroline’ is a tune that we all know very well, it’s a song that we all love, and for him to kind of incorporate that and have his signature funny lyrics to go along with it and a big backstory, I was just excited to go along and hopefully make a commercial that people are going to laugh at and find memorable, and that’s going to stand out,” she adds.
“I’ve long been known as a great lover of all things sandwich,” added Samberg. “One could almost say it’s been my life’s great calling. So, when I was asked to take part in singing the sandwich gospel atop the highest peak of all monoculture, there was but one answer, and that answer was a simple, ‘Yes I will do that with aplomb and joy upon this glorious day and yes please and thank you and all praise to Neil Diamond.”
“The Big Game is a stage for unforgettable moments and iconic performances, and for our sixth year we’re bringing that same energy,” adds Jessica Grigoriou, senior VP of condiments marketing in North America for Unilever. “Music, nostalgia and food all have a unique way of creating shared moments and ‘Sweet Sandwich Time’ is a catchy reminder that Hellmann’s can be the star of any sandwich – or any game day celebration.”
Read the full article here
