Kurt Russell revealed that his and Goldie Hawn’s Labrador retriever, Roy Hawn Russell, inspired him to take part in a commercial airing during the Super Bowl. The actor accepted a role in a Michelob ULTRA advertisement this year, partly motivated by a desire to connect with Roy, who previously starred in a 2024 Budweiser Super Bowl commercial.
Roy’s Rise to Fame Through a Heartwarming Commercial
Russell shared with Entertainment Weekly that Roy, described as a “Budweiser dog,” earned his spot in the spotlight after participating in a casting call. Roy played the lead role in the Budweiser ad, guiding a horse-drawn carriage through a blizzard to a local tavern, capturing the hearts of viewers nationwide. Russell’s family, including Kate Hudson and Wyatt Russell, gathered to watch and celebrate Roy’s big moment on screen.
“Roy, our Lab that I got gold for Goldie, he became the Budweiser dog,”
Russell explained.
“He went in on a cattle call, and they picked him — and I think there was a large audience for that! So I looked at this as an opportunity to maybe catch up with my dog. Who knows? Maybe this will be a really big audience!”
“Kate did a little video last year of the commercial when it came on, and that went viral because Anheuser-Busch had no idea that [Roy] was a dog that was Goldie’s and mine,”
Russell added.
“They got more mileage outta that than they did the commercial, I was told by the Buschs!”
Despite his sudden fame, Russell believes Roy isn’t bothered by sharing the spotlight.
“So far so good, but I don’t think he’s too worried about much,”
Russell said with a laugh.
Family Celebrates Roy’s Super Bowl Moment
Kate Hudson posted a video on Instagram showing the commercial playing on the family’s TV, then shifted to Roy receiving affectionate pets from loved ones, including Kurt Russell himself. The actor cheered on Roy with warmth and pride.
“Good boy, Roy!” Russell exclaimed in the clip.
“You just were in front of more people than any actor in this family has ever been in front of at one time!”
Hudson added her own caption praising Roy’s performance,
“There’s a lot of thespians in this family, but tonight there was only one star.”
Goldie Hawn also shared her excitement on social media, expressing her joy about Roy’s debut in the prestigious game.
“Don’t get me wrong, I love watching football, but tonight was all about watching our dog Roy Hawn Russell star in his first superbowl commercial for @budweiserusa!!!”
Kurt Russell’s Role in the Latest Super Bowl Ad
Following Roy’s success, Russell’s own appearance in a Super Bowl commercial has generated anticipation. Titled The ULTRA Instructor, the advertisement is directed by Joseph Kosinski and features Russell as a mysterious snow expert who mentors a novice skier played by Lewis Pullman. This marks Russell’s first collaboration with Pullman.
Russell mentioned that he and Pullman met for the first time during filming. Their connection was encouraged by Russell’s son, Wyatt, who has worked with Pullman on Marvel projects.
“Wyatt told me, ‘Who’s going to play the student, as it were?’ And I said, ‘Lewis Pullman.’ And he said, ‘Do you know Lewis!?’”
Russell recalled.
“And I said, ‘No.’ [He said,] ‘Aww, he’s a great guy. You’re going to have a blast. You’re going to have a great time with him!”
“I said, Oh, you guys know each other?’ He said, ‘We work together in Marvel.’ I said, ‘Oh, okay, great!’ I didn’t know. And he was right.”
Marvel Connections Extend Within the Russell Family
Wyatt Russell has portrayed John Walker, a complex character operating as the U.S. Agent within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) for the past five years. He will reunite on screen with Pullman, who plays Bob/Sentry, in the upcoming film Avengers: Doomsday. Kurt Russell himself joined the MCU in 2017, playing the father of Peter Quill in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.
Anticipation for Family Reactions and Ad Reception
Following the success of Roy’s commercial, attention now turns to how Russell’s family will respond to his debut in Michelob ULTRA’s Super Bowl advertisement. The heartfelt dynamic of the recent Budweiser ad and the intrigue of The ULTRA Instructor demonstrate the unique bond between Russell, his family, and their beloved dog.
