KFC's in League With Marvel's Doctor Doom, So It Survives an Apocalypse

Plus more promos around 'Avengers: Doomsday' from Dunkin' (With Channing Tatum) and Dave & Busters (aka Doom & Buster's)

When civilization collapses into a pile of smoldering wreckage, you’ll need a KFC Boneless Banquet to sustain you. (With extra gravy on the side, obvi.)

Well, you’re in luck. Because KFC struck a bargain with the villain of Marvel’s Avengers: Doomsday in order to survive an apocalypse while its restaurant rivals meet a deep-fried fate.

In the cataclysmic :60 below, Doctor Doom allows exactly one eatery to emerge from his frenzy of destruction to fast-feed a shattered world. (Hint: It ain’t Golden Dumpling Takeaway.)

“We’re not just teaming up with the most anticipated movie of the decade. We’re leaning into its biggest, baddest character and delivering a menu worthy of the moment,” says KFC chief concepts officer Christophe Poirier.

There’s a “Doomified” menu in select markets that leans into smoky flavors. Plus Colonel Sanders dolls rocking Avengers: Doomsday garb and lots of film tie-in packaging.

“This isn’t just about chicken. It’s about putting KFC at the heart of a global cultural phenomenon in the most epic way we could,” Poirier says.

It feels in sync with KFC’s subversively silly creative while making smart use of Marvel’s IP. KFC UK&I and Mother London led the global initiative, with Business Club’s Tom Noakes directing the video.

Meanwhile, Dunkin’s Plots a ‘Doomsday’ Gambit of Its Own

Neither Dunkin’ Donuts nor Dave & Buster’s made a deal to weather Doormageddon. But they’ve got their own takes on Avengers: Doomsday, which drops on Dec. 18 and should reign as one of the year’s biggest blockbusters.

First, Channing Tatum—in character as Gambit from the flick with his sidekick bot H.E.R.B.I.E.—hypes Dunkin’s Doom-y menu:

“Marvel fans are deeply invested in these characters and stories, and this collaboration gives them new ways to experience the world of Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Doomsday,” says Dunkin’ CMO Jill Nelson. “From Channing Tatum’s return as Gambit to immersive restaurant experiences across the country, we’re bringing the excitement of the film into everyday Dunkin’ runs.”

Dunkin’s Doom-play includes restaurant takeovers in L.A., Chicago, NYC and Boston—feting Marvel’s Fantastic Four, X-Men, Avengers and Doctor Doom, respectively. The location transformations will remain in place for weeks, we’re told. Naturally, character-inspired menus and limited-edition merch is in the mix.

Doom & Buster’s—That’s Got a Certain Ring to It

Finally, Dave & Buster’s is changing its name to Doom & Buster’s for a Nov. 16 extravaganza.

The push includes:

• The temporary renaming and transformations with Doomsday Zones in participating stores.
• Marvel-themed gameplay and collectibles.
• “Doomhour,” a surprise hour of double tickets on green-swipe games for guests, with advance alerts through the D&B Rewards app.
• Marvel-inspired cocktails and mocktails.

“When one of the biggest movies of the year is coming, you don’t put up a poster. You bend the knee,” says Jeremy Tucker, Dave & Buster’s CMO. “We gave Doom our name. We gave him the floor. We gave him the bar.”

“Doom & Buster’s is a world fans can only walk into with us, and it’s built for the thing we do better than anyone: Bringing people together to play, compete and be part of the action. All shall play. We’re just making it official.”

Naturally, more Doomsday marketing’s in the pipeline from brands of all sorts. For them, the release provides an increasingly rare mega-platform to reach an engaged audience at massive scale. We’ll see if the no-good Doctor can obliterate the record $310 million in global promotional value (with 165 brand partners) set by Spider-Man: Brand New Day this summer.

Related: Columbia Sportswear’s Bunker Helps You Survive the Apocalypse in Rugged Style