Burger King is teaming up with Star Wars for a limited-time menu, bringing a galaxy far, far away to its restaurants.
The promotion launches May 4—often celebrated as Star Wars Day— at participating US resturants with themed packaging and exclusive items tied to The Mandalorian and Grogu, which arrives in theaters May 22.
“Star Wars has shaped generations of fans, and as we head into the release of Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu, we saw an opportunity to bring that excitement straight into our restaurants,” Joel Yashinsky, Chief Marketing Officer of Burger King U.S. & Canada, said in a press statement.
The themed packaging includes four collectible themed cups, a Mandalorian helmet-shaped carton, a Grogu-themed carton, and an Imperial-themed carton. Additionally, Burger King’s iconic crown has been reimagined to feature the Mandalorian’s helmet in its design.
In terms of menu items, the lineup includes the BBQ Bounty Whopper, a quarter-pound patty paired with swiss cheese, pickle chips, and BBQ sauce.
There are also two Grogu-inspired dishes, a Blue Cookie Shake made up of soft serve and blue cookie syrup, andGarlic Chicken Fries, white-meat chicken fries seasoned with garlic and parmesan cheese with a side of garlic sauce.
Lastly, Imperial-themed Cheddar Ranch Tots feature cheese and potato-stuffed bites paired with ranch seasoning.
A Mandalorian-themed kids menu is also set to roll out beginning April 28 with a Mandalorian-themed toy. The kids menu features a choice between a hamburger or nuggets, apple sauce or kid-sized fries, and the option of milk or apple juice.
Burger King is not the first large fast food chain to tap into other franchises for cultural relevance.
Last month, McDonald’s released a K-Pop Demon Hunters-themed menu that sparked a flurry of reviews online. Similarly last year, KFC dropped a Squid Game-inspired collaboration in Europe, featuring a pink burger bun that went viral, while Wendy’s rolled out a Wednesday-themed menu and packaging inspired by the hit Netflix show.
Co-branded meals also try to leverage the popularity of specific genres, like a recent collaboration between Popeye’s and One Piece—a popular anime show with over 1,000 episodes—did.
The wave of collaborations follows a growing trend of large brands tapping into the clout of fan-favorite franchises as an effort to both cross-pollinate audiences and renew interest in the legacy brand.
“It’s less about getting audiences to try the collaboration, and more about reminding them to reach for the original thing,” Grace Murray Vazquez, executive vice president of strategy at the influencer marketing company Fohr, told Fast Company last year.
