Joss Whedon has less to do these days after leaving the Marvel Universe, so naturally he’s re-entered the universe of politics, launching “Save the Day,” a Super PAC and production company designed to “fight the apathy, cynicism, and honest confusion that keeps citizens from using their vote” — but also to help Hillary Clinton.
He’s tapped both Hollywood and Washington DC talent, picking up Funny or Die‘s Ben Sheehan and Vice President Joe Biden’s public engagement aide, Carri Twigg.
The Hollywood Reporter was quick to call the project “heroic,” noting that Whedon is, like the superheros in his movies and television shows, taking on the “big threat” of voter apathy. You may not have a candidate you want to vote for, America, but Joss Whedon is going to, at least, use star-studded Internet PSAs to convince you that that shouldn’t be a hurdle to participating in the democratic process.
And he promises a naked Mark Ruffalo in return.
If you haven’t gotten the message, this election is too important to sit out. So, of course, vote for Hillary Clinton because she is less unfavorable than the other guy. And because these famous people tell you to, some of whom are kind of crying.
Whedon told the Reporter that he thinks it’s a winning strategy. “Seeing somebody famous makes people stop. Seeing something funny makes people stop. Seeing something with emotion makes people stop. Those are the ways you can get to people.”
The videos are clearly aimed at former Bernie Sanders supporters and Millennials who seem to be on the fence about supporting Hillary Clinton — and in such large numbers that it could cost Clinton the election. The argument, of course, is that such widespread apathy could result in a runaway win for Donald Trump.
Whedon is building on not just a record of being a Democratic voter and donor (he’s a maxed-out Hillary Clinton donor), but a track record of success with his target demographic. His late-in-the-game ad for Barack Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign, about preventing a zombie apocalypse, was a viral hit, scoring almost a million YouTube views in its first 24 hours.
“Save the Day” has that many views on Facebook, alone.
Wednesday’s video is just the launch, Whedon says, and viewers can expect at least 10 more videos from the Avengers: Age of Ultron director. Viewers can also expect appearances from some Hollywood A-listers, including Robert Downy, Jr., Stanley Tucci, and Neil Patrick Harris, who will all hopefully make the insufferable lecturing at least sort of fun.
