Kurt Russell Discusses His Latest Career Moves And New Super Bowl Ad

Kurt Russell for Michelob ULTRA

Anheuser-Busch

Over the span of many decades now, Kurt Russell has charmed his way into our lives through his many memorable on-screen performances. From Overboard, Backdraft and Tombstone – to more recently, playing Santa Claus in The Christmas Chronicles movies and starring alongside his son Wyatt Russell in the Monarch: Legacy of Monsters series, Russell, 74, has remained a beloved Hollywood star throughout his long acting career.

Now, Russell will have all eyes on him, yet again, when he stars in the new Michelob ULTRA commercial, which will air on television throughout this Winter Olympics season and on Super Bowl Sunday. In the ad spot, Russell plays an enigmatic coach figure and spiritual guide to a timid skier, played by fellow actor Lewis Pullman.

Getting to speak with Russell on a Zoom conversation, just following the Academy Award nominations morning on January 22, before discussing his playful Michelob ULTRA gig, I had to congratulate him and his longtime partner Goldie Hawn on their daughter Kate Hudson being nominated for another Oscar this year for her outstanding performance in Song Sung Blue.

Kurt Russell, Goldie Hawn, Kate Hudson and Hugh Jackman attend the “Song Sung Blue” New York Premiere at AMC Lincoln Square Theater on December 11, 2025 in New York City, New York.

WireImage

Russell said with Hudson in mind, “It’s always nice for an actor to be recognized for something that they’ve done. When the performance is deserving of it, and in my opinion, it’s not only deserving of a nomination, but it’s deserving of a win. I mean, she was fantastic. So, I’m just happy for her and happy with her. She has worked hard and she has done all kinds of things. Goldie and Kate together now are, I guess, historic in that they’ve both been nominated twice for Academy Award. Goldie won one and maybe we’ll see what happens. Maybe Kate will sneak in there with one.”

As for how the Michelob ULTRA commercial opportunity come about for Russell, he said, “It was just through my agent. He notified me that they were interested in doing something and having me play the character. I read it and I kind of went – Yeah, okay! I like the mysteriousness of the character. I like the fact that it could tap into a sort of the coaching aspect of things that I had done in Miracle and other things. So, I brought the right baggage.”

Kurt Russell and Lewis Pullman for Michelob ULTRA

Anheuser-Busch

Russell added about the annual pop culture moment that these widely televised ads become: “Super Bowl ads are a different thing. They’re like a competition. They’re like water cooler competition stuff and they’re like mini movies, you know? The Anheuser-Busch people were fantastic. The ULTRA people were really fun to work with. Completely open to ideas, suggestions. We all went to work and came up with what this is, and it was just a really fun experience.”

As Russell’s acting career continues onward, including with season two of Monarch premiering February 27 on Apple TV and his new series The Madison premiering March 14 on Paramount Plus, I wondered what he is valuing or enjoying more at this stage of his life and career, that he perhaps did not savor in the same way in years past.

Kurt Russell in “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters”

Apple TV

“I’ve been doing the Monarch show the last couple of years, and I really liked the size and epic-ness of what that is. It’s an interesting world. The Madisonthe Taylor Sheridan show, I’ve read it and I said, Man, I really like what this show is. It’s really good. So, Michelle [Pfeiffer] and Taylor were able to get together with Paramount and say, ‘Hey, instead of just doing one season of six [episodes]let’s do two seasons and we’ll shoot all of Kurt’s stuff. And so, that we were able to work out. So, when you ask that question, I just like the opportunity to always do things that I think are going to be fun for the audience. Madison is a completely different show than Monarch. It’s just so well-written and so well-played. The new cast that’s involved with it is really good. It’s beautifully shot and it’s classy. For me, it was a chance to do something that I kind of never had done before.”

Kurt Russell and Matthew Fox in “The Madison”

Paramount+

Circling back to Super Bowl Sunday, which will take place on February 8, when the Seattle Seahawks take on the New England Patriots at Levi’s Stadium in California, what are Russell’s plans around watching the big game?

“I love watching the game on TV. I really do. I enjoy watching the Super Bowl because the game itself is great. It’s a day to celebrate America. It’s just a good time. Those guys work their whole lives to get to that game.”

While concluding my conversation with the longtime entertainer, I left him with one final question – Who is Kurt Russell in 2026? What brings the greatest passion and purpose to your days lately?

Kurt Russell for Michelob ULTRA

Anheuser-Busch

Russell said, “Well, I have eight grandkids and a lot of them are showing some real talent in different ways. We’ve got some serious athletes, and I think we’ve got some that are probably going to end up going into the entertainment business. I’m interested in what happens with their lives and my children, too. Goldie has got her [MindUp] foundation that she works on a lot, and she pours her heart into that and her time. Every day seems to be a fun day.”