AFLAC duck hits silver screen

While other poultry end up as dinner this holiday season, the AFLAC duck will be angling for an Oscar. After months of negotiations with Paramount Pictures, the insurance company spokesduck has landed a cameo role in the new Jim Carrey film, “Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events.”

The idea came from director Brad Silberling, who wanted to add a moment of comic relief to an intense scene, said Al Johnson, AFLAC’s vice president of advertising and branding.

As part of the deal, AFLAC will spend $5 million airing TV commercials that promote the duck and the movie, which premieres Dec. 17.

Johnson said he was thrilled with the duck’s silver screen debut, which features the bird being catapulted off a boat: “He did his own stunts; he didn’t need a body double.” Although the duck fails to utter his trademark “AFLAC” scream in the movie, his identity should still be clear to viewers, Johnson said.