Andy Samberg Says Jason Momoa Swung Him Around 'Like a Rag Doll' at the “SNL” 50th Afterparty (Exclusive)
- - Andy Samberg Says Jason Momoa Swung Him Around 'Like a Rag Doll' at the “SNL” 50th Afterparty (Exclusive)
Sean MandellFebruary 8, 2026 at 6:53 AM
0
(L): Andy Samberg attends the UK Premiere of "Lee" on September 3, 2024 in London; (R): Jason Momoa attends the "Dune" UK Special Screening on October 18, 2021 in London.
Neil Mockford/WireImage; Karwai Tang/WireImage
Andy Samberg says Jason Momoa picked him up and spun him around “like a rag doll” the first time they met
The unexpected encounter inspired the pair's upcoming movie, Protecting Jared
The SNL alum spoke with PEOPLE about Momoa and the action comedy while on the set of Hellmann's 2026 Super Bowl ad, which sees him channel Neil Diamond
Andy Samberg is recalling his memorable first encounter with Jason Momoa.
In an interview with PEOPLE on the set of his Hellmann's 2026 Super Bowl commercial, the Brooklyn Nine-Nine star, 47, shared how he met the Minecraft Movie actor, 46, at the SNL 50th Anniversary Special afterparty, and how the introduction helped spark their upcoming movie, Protecting Jared.
"I had never met him and then last year at the SNL 50th after-party, I met him and he picked me up and swung me around in a circle like a rag doll," Samberg tells PEOPLE. "We hugged and laughed."
Samberg says he later told the story to his longtime friends and collaborators, writers Rob Klein and John Solomon, and they immediately saw potential in pairing the two together onscreen.
“A week later they were like, ‘We have an idea for a movie for you and Momoa,’” he remembers. “They told it to me and I loved it, and we called him. We went and pitched it to him and he loved it. We took it out, and Netflix bought it.”
Official plot details have yet to be released, but according to Production Weekly, Protecting Jared follows William Ikaika (Momoa), a Hawaiian security guard who is forced to defend both himself and Jared Bachman (Samberg), a despised tech billionaire, when a dangerous kidnapping scheme erupts.
"It's going to be really fun. I've never done one exactly like this," Samberg says. "I think it's going to be on a scale that I'm really excited about also. I think it's going to be a really cool team."
Andy Samberg in Hellmann's 2026 Super Bowl commercial.
Hellmann's
In January, PEOPLE exclusively revealed that Samberg had taken on the starring role in Hellmann's 2026 Super Bowl commercial. Shot at Los Angeles’ famed Canter’s Deli, the playful ad sees Samberg channel Neil Diamond in a musical parody about mayonnaise inspired by a beloved singalong anthem.
“I was told that there was going to be a re-imagining of a Neil Diamond song for a spot, and it was for the Super Bowl, which was very exciting of course,” Samberg tells PEOPLE.
The comedian says he enjoyed the brand’s previous spots, such as Kate McKinnon’s “mayo cat” and last year’s When Harry Met Sally reunion. “I thought there was probably going to be some fun to be had," he shared.
— sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
The Saturday Night Live alum is also a big fan of the Sweet Caroline singer.
“Love Neil Diamond,” Samberg continues. “Not just him, but I also love Will Ferrell's impression of him he used to do on SNL.”
“He's an American classic, and he writes songs people want to sing along to,” he adds.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
