Watch John Malkovich try to reclaim his (domain) name in Squarespace’s Super Bowl ads via Aussie expat agency JohnXHannes New York

“You think when people contact JohnMalkovich.com they are actually looking for you?” he says to the person on the other side of the call. “Maybe, maybe they are looking for me.”

Squarespace will run the 30-second spot in the first-half of Super Bowl LI, via JohnXHannes New York, a multi disciplinary creative collective co-founded by Aussie Expats John McKelvey and Hannes Ciatti.

This is the company’s fourth consecutive commercial in the big game, which has become a battleground among web services also including Wix.com and GoDaddy, which once had the field to itself. 

Watch the pre-game teaser

Watch the Super Bowl In Game online spot

Watch the Super Bowl half time 30 sec TVC spot

Squarespace will also air a 60-second commercial in the pre-game. The company released an extended version of the pre-game spot last week.

“In contrast to the over-the-top Super Bowl ads, we wanted to cut through with simplicity,” says John McKelvey, executive creative director and co-founder.

“An intimate, relatable moment of panic. The creative was designed so we first experience John discovering his domain is taken in the pre-game spot. Then we all get to enjoy John Malkovich calling John Malkovich to ask for it back during the in-game commercial. Inspired by real world events and the domain JohnMalkovich.com.” 

“No one knows an identity crisis better than John Malkovich, nor could there be a better actor to communicate the emotion and humor of this modern dilemma,” says Hannes Ciatti, executive creative director and co-founder.

“Get your domain before it’s gone plays with the universal fear of discovering you’re not the only one with your name and your online identity is taken by someone else.”

Client: Squarespace

Producer: Michael Power