Connor Storrie, the breakout star of hit romance series Heated Rivalry, leads a genre-bending Verizon ad directed by filmmaker Nia DaCosta, known for Candyman and 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. In the ad, ominous things start to happen around Corrie, who’s alone in a cabin.
Spoiler alert: there’s a twist ending, and if you don’t want it ruined, check out the four-minute ad before reading this article.
Verizon’s “Look Behind You,” created by agency X&O, marks Storrie’s first brand film and DaCosta’s first brand project. Storrie has previously modeled for Coach and is a brand ambassador for Saint Laurent.
The spot finds Storrie in a cabin, a setting that recalls the final episode of Heated Rivalry, when his character Ilya retreats to a family cottage.
But there’s nothing romantic about the dimly-lit cabin in the Verizon ad. The lights flicker, there are mysterious phone calls, the music turns on for no apparent reason, and it becomes clear that Storrie might not be alone.
The call, however, is indeed coming from inside the house — specifically, Storrie’s storied rear end is pushing against his phone, which is packed so tightly in his rear pocket that he keeps butt-activating his smart-devices.
Despite the cabin’s isolation, Verizon’s network is apparently that reliable. The spot ends with the line: “The best butt. The best network.”
Verizon teased the campaign during the Academy Awards earlier this month, when Storrie and DaCosta, stepped out together at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party, sparking speculation that they were collaborating.
“We set out to bring Verizon’s network to life in a way that’s bold and unexpected, and we’re thrilled with the result. Nia is an absolute artist, and Connor is simply a phenomenon,” Leslie Berland, evp and chief marketing officer of Verizon, said in a statement.
Storrie, who is set to return for a second season of Heated Rivalry, added in a statement: “From the concept to execution, this was an incredibly collaborative and creatively fulfilling experience. Verizon is a brand that really understands storytelling and culture, so they fully leaned into the idea. And working with visionary director Nia DaCosta took everything to another level.”
Verizon has a history of tapping into pop culture with buzzy ad campaigns. Its 2024 Super Bowl ad starred Beyoncé, while last year it partnered with comedian and actor Pete Davidson.
