Celebrity Names: Connor Storrie & Nia DaCosta
Brand Name: Verizon
Deal Type: Brand Partnership / Film Campaign
Announced: March 31, 2026
Impact: Elevates Verizon’s image as a storytelling-first brand while boosting Connor Storrie’s mainstream profile and expanding Nia DaCosta’s footprint into high-end commercial work
- After his breakout role in HBO Max’s Heated Rivalry, Connor Storrie makes his advertising debut in a creative five-minute short for Verizon that blends horror-thriller aesthetics with clever product messaging.
- Oscar-nominated director Nia DaCosta, known for Candyman and Marvel’s The Marvels, marks her inaugural brand partnership, bringing cinematic vision and storytelling prowess to the campaign.
- Titled “Look Behind You,” the campaign cleverly plays on accidental “butt-dialing” to trigger spooky cottage chaos, showcasing Verizon’s network reliability through satire and comedy that’s already going viral.
- The partnership demonstrates how A-list entertainment figures are using high-concept advertising to reach audiences authentically, blurring lines between art and commerce.
Following his career-defining role as Ilya Rozanov in HBO Max’s sensational sports romance Heated Rivalry, Connor Storrie has stepped into unexpected territory, his first-ever brand partnership.
Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Nia DaCosta, the nearly five-minute short film “Look Behind You” showcases a darkly comedic concept that’s already captivating audiences worldwide.
The campaign follows Storrie as he arrives at a secluded woodland cottage, where mysterious supernatural events unfold: the stereo blares, lights flicker, and the alarm system triggers, all orchestrated by his accidental “butt-dials.”
Drawing inspiration from horror classics like Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer, DaCosta’s direction creates genuine tension before the humorous reveal.
Storrie’s performance earned recognition from his Heated Rivalry co-star Hudson Williams, who commented enthusiastically on the project’s viral success.
The spot joins a growing trend of celebrity-driven campaigns, including Emily Ratajkowski’s collaboration with Cymbiotika and John Stamos and Jodie Sweetin’s partnership for Cologuard, where A-list talent elevates brand storytelling.
For DaCosta, fresh off directing the action-packed 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (January 2026) and the acclaimed adaptation Hedda (2025), this marks her first foray into commercial advertising, a significant industry moment.
Storrie, who recently hosted Saturday Night Live in February 2026 and signed with powerhouse agency CAA in January, also has projects like the A24 comedy Peaked (alongside Dua Lipa and Laura Dern) and his directorial debut Transaction Planet in development.
Takeaways
This collaboration represents a significant cultural moment in modern celebrity marketing. As audiences grow increasingly fatigued by traditional advertising, stars are leveraging their authentic creative partnerships to maintain audience engagement.
Connor Storrie and Nia DaCosta’s Verizon campaign proves that premium storytelling, with genuine artistic vision, can elevate brand messaging beyond conventional commercial territory.
What makes this partnership particularly newsworthy is the mutual benefit: DaCosta gains creative prestige in the commercial space while maintaining her artistic integrity, and Storrie expands his post-Heated Rivalry momentum by showcasing his comedic timing and willingness to take creative risks.
For Verizon, securing two A-list entertainment figures underscores the brand’s commitment to culture-forward marketing that resonates with younger demographics who consume content across multiple platforms.
This trend signals a broader industry shift where celebrity brand partnerships are becoming less transactional and more collaborative, transforming advertisements into talking points rather than content people skip.
Does a mini horror film make you more likely to remember a phone carrier than a regular ad? How much does seeing a favorite streaming star, like Connor Storrie, influence your view of a brand?
