Timothy Olyphant Almost Missed Beyoncé’s Levi’s Ad for a Ceramics Class – His Daughter Saved the Day!
Hollywood veteran Timothy Olyphant, known for his roles in “Justified” and “Santa Clarita Diet,” recently revealed a surprising near-miss: he almost turned down a coveted opportunity to star alongside music icon Beyoncé in a high-profile Levi’s campaign. The reason? A prior commitment to a ceramics class. It was only through the decisive intervention of his daughter that the 57-year-old actor ultimately joined the “REIIMAGINE” campaign, an ad that has since garnered significant attention, particularly for its connection to Beyoncé’s country-inspired album, “Cowboy Carter.”
A Prior Engagement: Ceramics vs. Beyoncé
Olyphant shared the amusing anecdote during his appearance on the Wednesday, August 23rd episode of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”, with guest host Nicole Byer. Recalling the initial phone call, Olyphant recounted his unexpected response to the chance of working with the 35-time Grammy winner. “They called and they were like, ‘Hey, Beyoncé is doing this thing.’ No one was sure what the thing was, but they wanted to know if I was free that weekend,” he explained. His candid reply, tinged with a humorous indifference, was, “I got ceramics… I don’t know.”
Daughter to the Rescue: A Decisive Intervention
This moment of hesitation, however, was quickly overridden by a higher authority: his daughter. Overhearing the conversation, she reportedly grabbed the phone and delivered a clear ultimatum to his agent, Darren. “Darren, he’s doing it because if he doesn’t, we won’t ever speak to him,” she declared, effectively sealing Olyphant’s participation. The actor expressed gratitude for her intervention, admitting, “I’m glad she said yes. I had a lovely time.”
Stepping into the “REIIMAGINE” Campaign
The resulting Levi’s advertisement, a key component of the brand’s “REIIMAGINE” campaign, casts Olyphant as a denim-clad cowboy enjoying a dive bar setting. The narrative unfolds as Beyoncé makes her entrance, leading to an impromptu game of pool between the two stars. Much to Olyphant’s character’s surprise, Beyoncé showcases exceptional skill, ultimately defeating him. The ad culminates in a playful, yet memorable, scene where Olyphant’s character is compelled to drop his Levi’s jeans, revealing his boxer briefs to the bar’s patrons. This visually striking moment, often highlighted in discussions of the campaign, reinforces the ad’s bold and confident tone.
A “Lovely Time” with a Global Superstar
Reflecting on his time on set, Olyphant spoke warmly of the experience and the magnetism of working with the global superstar. “You just stand next to her and you’re like, ‘Look at this, I’m cooler than I was before.’ It was good, I’m glad I did it,” he told Byer. He further praised Beyoncé, adding, “She was lovely. She was so nice.”
No Free Jeans: A Humorous Confession
Despite his prominent role in the high-profile campaign, Olyphant humorously confessed that his collaboration did not come with the perk of complimentary denim. “True story, just a couple months ago, I was in the Levi’s outlet store shopping. And I thought, ‘What the f— did I miss? How did I end up here? This makes no sense,’ ” he joked, before adding with a laugh, “I was like ‘Wow, 30% off, this is great!’ “
Beyond Levi’s: Olyphant’s Latest Endeavors
Beyond his recent Levi’s venture, Olyphant remains active in his acting career. He currently stars in Hulu’s “Alien: Earth,” which premiered on August 12th, with new episodes releasing every Tuesday.
