HUGH REINBOLTSTRATEGY DIRECTORSOCIAL, CREATOR & CONTENT
London, UK
Warner Bros / LEGO / DC campaign.
Seismic

Warner Bros.
LEGO. DC.

The next villain is you.

Social & CommunityCreator & InfluencerContent & PlatformsBrand & Growth

The challenge

LEGO DC Super-Villains, a global AAA game, needed to bring LEGO, DC and gaming fans together while relaunching a franchise. Its character creator offered a distinctive way to make players part of the story.

The idea

Make character creation the reason to participate. Use #ItsGoodToBeBad to turn fandom into an invitation to become a Super-Villain, supported by interactive formats, creators and event activity.

My contribution

I independently pitched for and won the social account, then led communications, social and content strategy. I partnered with the Creative Director, worked closely with the client Marketing Director, Head of Digital and Content Manager, and directed campaign production with the community, strategy and creative teams.

Announce trailer

28.4m YouTube views

Watch on YouTube ↗

Selected Executions

Know the villains

Character backstories give the audience another way into the world.

Campaign creativeEnlarge image ↗

We want you

A character-led invitation makes participation explicit.

Campaign creativeEnlarge image ↗

Become the villain

Event activity connects the character-creation idea with the physical experience.

Event activationEnlarge image ↗

The Results

70m+

Organic campaign reach

20m+

Organic video views

$5m+

First-week game sales

1m+

Engaged fans

3K+

Super-Villains created at global events

01 / Strategic Approach

Make character creation the invitation.

The game let fans invent their own Super-Villain. #ItsGoodToBeBad translated that product feature into a participatory idea, connecting the worlds of LEGO, DC and gaming.

02 / Strategic Approach

One idea, many ways to join.

Wanted posters, comics, social films, playable challenges, creators and live character-creation experiences turned one idea into many entry points. Briefs and an international toolkit supported local activation and continued campaign content.

Inside the Strategic Thinking

A world of social formats

Superman / character parody

Guess the villain

Vandalised teaser

Collectible character cards

Darkseid / character comic

Selected Executions / Creator community

Selected Executions / Participation

What I brought to the work

  • Pitch and account winIndependently pitched for and won the social account.
  • Strategy and client collaborationLed communications, social and content strategy, working with the client's Marketing Director, Head of Digital and Content Manager.
  • Creative and team leadershipPartnered with the agency Creative Director and managed a Community Manager, Junior Strategist and four-strong creative team.
  • Production and international activationWrote the campaign calendar and creative briefs, oversaw production and activation, and created the international toolkit.

What this demonstrates

The strongest participation ideas begin with something the product genuinely lets people do. That connection makes the creative idea easier to extend across content, creators, live experiences and an ongoing release programme.

Original Global Champions strategy matrix.

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