McDonald’s is partnering with Netflix to bring the rivalry of “K-Pop Demon Hunters” into its restaurants.
The Academy Award-winning animated film pits fictional groups HUNTR/X and the Saja Boys against each other, so Chicago-based McDonald’s is inviting fans to choose sides through two dueling adult meals. The new menu items showcase flavors from the burger giant’s locations in South Korea, connecting fans to the film through taste.
The Saja Boys Breakfast Meal includes a Spicy Saja McMuffin—a Sausage McMuffin with Egg topped with a peppery Spicy Saja Sauce—accompanied by the chain’s signature Hash Browns and a small soft drink. The spicy McMuffin reflects the fiery Gwi-Ma and the soft-inside, crispy-outside hash browns fit Jinu, two of the Saja Boys characters, according to McDonald’s.
The girls’ HUNTR/X Meal features a 10-piece Chicken McNuggets, medium soft drink and three limited-time items. Leading off are Ramyeon McShaker Fries, flavored with a soy, garlic, sesame and spice seasoning blend inspired by the go-to snack favored by KPop superstars Rumi, Mira and Zoey. Fans are instructed to “sprinkle the seasoning into the McShaker bag, add fries, and shake for a bold taste that's true to South Korean flavors.”
Two dipping sauces round out the girls’ menu. Hunter Sauce is a sweet chili sauce with notes of chili, garlic and pepper; just enough heat to satisfy “HUNTR/X's fierce, yet fun-loving personalities,” while Demon Sauce is a bold mustard sauce in a vibrant purple color that matches demon patterns.
Both KPop meals launch nationwide Tuesday.
“Everything we do at McDonald's is for the fans, and no one can relate to that more than Netflix and KPop Demon Hunters,” said Alyssa Buetikofer, chief marketing and customer experience officer at McDonald's, in a statement. “Big things happen when you bring two massive fandoms together, and this partnership was a natural fit. We found authentic ways to unite our iconic worlds—inviting HUNTR/X and Saja Boys fans into the rivalry in ways that feel true to the film and unmistakably McDonald's.”
Adds Marian Lee, CMO of Netflix: “With McDonald's, we were able to turn the rivalry between The Saja Boys and HUNTR/X into something fans can actually experience, drawing inspiration from Korean culture and food traditions that sit at the heart of the film. From Ramyeon McShaker Fries to Demon sauces paired with Soda Pop, every detail was designed to feel like it could have come straight out of a scene in the movie.”
Each of the themed meals comes with a collectible card pack consisting of an exclusive photocard for either HUNTR/X or the Saja Boys plus a Derpy access card. Fans can scan the QR code on the access card and enter the unique code on the McDonald's app by April 26 to unlock first access to exclusive content and a special reveal of the group that wins the Battle for the Fans.
Derpy Tiger, another character in the animated film, is also getting special menu recognition. McDonald’s is debuting the a la carte Derpy McFlurry, a new flavor that blends vanilla soft serve with berry popping pearls, enrobed in a wild berry sauce.
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