Apple Launches Star Wars Day Spot Starring 172 Fans

Apple, in collaboration with Disney's Star Wars, launched a new spot in celebration of Star Wars Day. 

The three-minute ad directed by Kim Gehrig shines the spotlight on 172 real-life fans of the franchise selected to participate in an epic Star Wars gathering.

It also touts the iPhone 15 and 15 Pro's Precision Finding feature that lets fans easily find each other and band together as Mandalorians. 

We were honored here at Skywalker Sound to have helped our friends at @Apple on this wonderful piece for Star Wars Day. #MayThe4thBeWithYou

Watch now: https://t.co/F9cC9pjtlHpic.twitter.com/qQRKP4juwI

— Skywalker Sound (@skywalkersound) May 5, 2024

The "Find Your Friends" commercial begins with the protagonist leaving his house to go to a Star Wars convention after feeding his cat named Leia.

In a Mandalorian suit from head to toe, he grabs a drink from a diner, boards a bus, and tells his fellow Star Wars fans that he's on the way via iMessage.

Arriving at the scene, he sees people dressed up as Jawa, Princess Leia, and Storm Troopers, among other characters in the George Lucas-made universe.

However, with the sheer amount of people at the convention and with most wearing helmets and masks that cover their faces, it was difficult to find his friends.

Luckily, one of them shares their location using Find My's Precision Finding feature, allowing the hero to pinpoint his group's exact whereabouts. 

After finally meeting up, they all dance to the beat of "All My Friends" by Channel Tres, bopping their heads as the spot comes to a close. 

Gathering Star Wars Fans

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Lucasfilm, the company behind popular franchises such as Star Wars and Indiana Jones, received over 300 applications from Star Warsfans to participate in the special advert.

Eventually, this number slimmed down to 172, but it still managed to become the largest number of fans it had ever enlisted to take part in a company project.

When asked how it felt to work on the project, real-life fan Owen Jardiniano expressed his amazement at being part of the short film. 

"Oh, it's great. It still doesn't feel real to me. It was just wonderful, really, being able to do all this," he shared.

What Is 'Star Wars Day'?

The latest spot from the tech giant is inspired by the famous "Star Wars Day," an unofficial holiday celebrated annually on May 4.

Its origins date back to 1978, which started with a pun on the famous phrase "May the Force be with you" from the Star Wars franchise, as "May the Fourth be with you."

Fans worldwide observe this day by hosting movie marathons, dressing up as their favorite characters, and engaging in various Star Wars-themed activities.

It's a day for them to come together to celebrate the beloved franchise and share their passion for the fictional universe — and Apple hopped on the perfect opportunity to tell an original story made exclusively for its fans. 

Apple's spot comes a month before the two-episode premiere of "The Acolyte," a Star Wars original series that will start streaming on Disney+ on June 4.

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Editing by Katherine 'Makkie' Maclang