By Gary Symons
TLL Editor in Chief
This Halloween, some of cinema’s most infamous villains won’t just be lurking in theaters and haunted houses; they’ll be staring back from soda cans.
Fanta announced Tuesday it is partnering with Universal Pictures and Blumhouse to launch a global Halloween campaign featuring five horror icons. They include Chucky from the “Child’s Play” franchise, Freddy Fazbear from “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2,” The Grabber from “Black Phone 2,” M3gan from “M3GAN 2.0” and Michael Myers from “Halloween 2.”
The promotion ties into Universal’s release of two new Blumhouse titles this fall, with Black Phone 2 coming out in time for Halloween on October 17, and Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 on December 5. But before moviegoers scream in theaters, they may first scream at the sight of Chucky on a soda can.
“Fanta promises deliciousness, and only deliciousness,” said Ibrahim Salim Khan, Fanta’s vice president. “What better occasion to have a little fun with that, than Halloween, the festival of tricks and treats.
“This Halloween, in a delicious, thrilling partnership with Universal Pictures and Blumhouse, we will bring back the most legendary horror icons for the first time ever. They’re back. But they’re not here to haunt you. They just… Wanta Fanta!”
Each character will be matched with a flavor in a limited-edition Halloween Collection. Chucky headlines with his own concoction, “Chucky’s Punch,” a fruit punch flavor debuting worldwide. The Grabber appears on strawberry cans, Freddy Fazbear on orange and orange zero sugar, M3gan on grape, and Michael Myers on pineapple, the latter available only in the United States.
Some variations will be trickier to track down than others. M3gan’s grape flavor, for example, will be available exclusively through Freestyle machines in select U.S. cinemas and Universal theme parks. Fans can also scan QR codes on cans for exclusive digital content and experiences.
From September through October, the partnership will extend beyond packaging into retail, vending machines, factories and live events. Fanta and Universal said the characters will “show up everywhere Fanta does,” in a mix of in-store promotions and immersive fan experiences.
The campaign blends old-school scares with pop-culture novelty marketing. It also adds a lighter, almost tongue-in-cheek twist to figures more often associated with terror than refreshment. Michael Myers with pineapple soda may not be canon, but it is certainly a mash-up designed to get fans talking.
The deal also marks another milestone for Blumhouse, the horror studio founded by Jason Blum, which has produced nearly 250 films and TV series and recently merged with James Wan’s Atomic Monster. The company, which has long leaned into licensed immersive and consumer experiences, is fresh from rolling out horror-themed games and participating in Universal’s annual Halloween Horror Nights.
Fanta, part of the Coca-Cola Company portfolio, has also leaned heavily into youth culture and seasonal tie-ins in recent years. The Halloween initiative may be one of its boldest, merging iconic characters with a fizzy backdrop.
Whether consumers are frightened or delighted, the campaign ensures that this fall, even a trip to the soda aisle could turn into a jump scare.