Batman, Bateman, and… insurance? State Farm and Highdive have created the crossover we never knew we needed! But deserved. The viral Batman vs. Bateman commercial has been taking the internet by storm, not just for its clever concept but for its stunningly comic-accurate Gotham City and villains.
The spot, which sees Arrested Development star Jason Bateman hilariously navigating Gotham’s chaos while the real Batman keeps him out of trouble, features a who’s who of the Dark Knight’s rogues’ gallery—including Two-Face, The Riddler, Catwoman, and The Joker.
And now, thanks to behind-the-scenes photos and footage, we’re getting closer to Gotham’s most infamous criminals—arguably looking better than some big-screen versions we’ve seen. (Yeah, we said it.)
The Gotham All-Stars
The ad assembled a wild mix of A-listers and internet favorites:
- SZA as Catwoman (because, obviously, she’s perfect for the role)
- Streamer Kai Cenat as a Gotham bystander
- Content creator Jordan Howlett (a.k.a. Jordan the Stallion) as Commissioner Gordon
- Abby May as Poison Ivy
- Josh Meyer as The Riddler
- Andrew Tippie as Two-Face
- Josh Harp as The Joker
The costumes, the makeup, the vibes—everything about these villains is straight out of the comics, giving fans a version of Gotham that’s as campy as it is faithful. And let’s be real, when was the last time we saw a fun Gotham that still nailed the source material?
Batman vs. Bateman: A Showdown for the Ages
For the first time ever, Batman and Bateman share the screen, and the result is pure comedic gold. The ad plays up the idea that just because something sounds the same, doesn’t mean it offers the same level of protection. Just like you wouldn’t confuse Bateman for Batman, you shouldn’t mistake just any insurance for State Farm.
“This campaign creates an opportunity for our brand, which is known for driving cultural relevancy through entertainment, to boldly ask consumers if they’re confident their insurance covers what they really need,” said Kristyn Cook, State Farm’s chief agency, sales, and marketing officer. “Through the juxtaposition of Batman and Bateman, we’re giving people a reason to question whether their current provider is giving them the full value they deserve.”
The Internet is Losing It
Fans have been raving about how good the villains look, with some even saying they rival live-action movie versions (ahem, take notes, James Gunn and Peter Safran). The attention to detail is evident—especially when you see the BTS photos and videos. The Riddler’s classic green suit? Check. Two-Face’s perfect split look? Yep. A Joker that actually looks menacing and not like someone raided a Spirit Halloween? Finally.
State Farm might have just dropped the best Batman-related content of the year—and we’re here for it.
CREDITS:
Brand: State Farm
- Chief Marketing Officer: Kristyn Cook
- Vice President: Alyson Griffin
- Marketing Executive: Patty Morris
- Creative Director: Greg Sutter
- Creative: Christine Williams
- Strategist: Nick Aviles
- Campaign Manager: Katie Grojean
- Strategist: Annie Rondone
- Strategist: Stephanie Robertson
- Producer: Joshua Zilm
Agency / Creative: Highdive
- Chief Executive Officer: Megan Lally
- Chief Creative Officer: Chad Broude
- Chief Creative Officer: Mark Gross
- Executive Creative Director: Emily Sander
- Creative Director: Ben Doessel
- Creative Director: James Lee
- Creative Director: Cerra Buckholz
- Creative Director: Jordan Chouteau
- Art Director: Sydney Cohen
- Copywriter: Jordan Fishel
- Group Account Director: Suzanne Stovall
- Account Director: Martha Carrothers
- Account Director: Sarah Wickman
- Account Executive: Rasheed Owens
- Strategy Director: Alex Cacioppo
- Head of Production: Jen Passaniti
- Executive Producer: Luke LiManni
- Executive Producer: John Pratt
- Producer: Chris Totzke
- Producer: Loreta Dilaveri
- Assistant Producer: Kevin Smith
- Director of Business Affairs: Kelley Beaman
- Business Affairs Manager: Annie Paganini
Agency / Creative Support
- Infinity Marketing Team
- The Marketing Arm
Media: OMD
Production: Hungry Man
- Director: Bryan Buckley
- Producer: Matt Lefebvre
- Producer: Sherra Fermino
- Executive Producer: Caleb Dewart
- Executive Producer: Kim Dellara
- Head of Production: Marian Harkness
- Director of Photography: Ben Seresin
- Production Designer: David Skinner
- Costume Designer: Anette Cseri
- Production Supervisor: Will Vudmaska
- 1st AD: Craig Owens
Post Production / VFX: Parliament
- VFX Supervisor: Eric Mason
- VFX Supervisor: Jason Bergman
- VFX Supervisor: Brandon Thomas
- 2D Lead: Kathleen Kirkman
- 2D Artist: Alex Koester
- 2D Artist: Myong Choi
- CG Artist: Lawrence Jones
- CG Artist: Cynthia Soza
- CG Artist: Juan Zavala
- CG Artist: Sean Myers
- Executive Producer: Kat Maidment
- Producer: Mike Cimino
- Producer: Anna Vegezzi
- Coordinator: Mario Kotevski
- Coordinator: Emma Fleischmann
Post Production / VFX: The Harbor Picture Company (US)
- Colorist: Damien Van der Cruyssen
- Colorist: Oisin O’driscoll
- Color Assistant: Joni Brandenburg
- Color Assistant: Scarlett Thiele
- Color Assistant: Elizabeth Hickey
- Color Producer: Brad Martin
- Color Executive Producer: Nadia Dabibi
Editorial: Cutters Studios
- Editor: Tim LoDolce
- Editor: David Rubin
- Edit Assistant: Jackie Cohen
- Head of Production: Patrick Casey
- Executive Producer: Heather Richardson
Music / Sound: Barking Owl
- Managing Director: Carol Dunn
- Creative Director: Johanna Cranitch
- Executive Producer: KC Dossett
- Music Producer: Blaise Justice
Music / Sound: Another Country Studios
- Sound Designer: Peter Erazmus
- Audio Assistant: Lucas Hansa
- Executive Producer: Louise Rider
- Music Producer: Josh Hunnicutt
- Managing Director: Tim Konn
PR: FleishmanHillard
The Geek is a working screenwriter, director and screenwriting instructor.
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State Farm’s ‘Batman vs. Bateman’ delivers the Gotham showdown we didn’t know we needed
