As newstalgia flavors the food world, Gushers decided to bring back a '90s commercial that has delighted—and haunted—the pop culture world. While some people will remember the eye-popping commercial, others are just getting their first taste of the unusual visual. Taking over the role as FruitHead, viral creator Chester Collins spoke to FlickDirect about this opportunity, sharing the screen with Bradley Whitford, and what haunts his mind.
Directed by Mike Diva, the premise of the reimagined short, “FruitHead,” is one that movie fans will appreciate. FruitHead, played by Collins, was cursed to forever live his life as the character. Now, later in life, he seeks revenge on the director, Bradley Whitford.
Filled with both frights and humor, the commercial has become an instant hit. While the original commercial has been part of pop culture for 30 years, the latest chapter brings the popular General Mills Gushers story to another audience.
Ahead of the release, Chester Collins spoke to FlickDirect about the experience. When asked why he decided to take this role, his response was direct. He said,
“I mean, how do you say no to playing the role of a cursed FruitHead? Role of a lifetime. This is the kind of weird, nostalgic concept I live for and am already known for online. I grew up watching those old commercials, so getting to step into that world—literally as the FruitHead—felt like I was living inside a piece of pop culture history. I'm also a huge fan of the director Mike Diva, so it was a no-brainer when he reached out.”
Additionally, the opportunity to work with Bradley Whitford was one that he could not refuse. Although he might not be a huge fan of scary movies, he had nothing but praise for his co-star.
Collins said, “Honestly, I'm pretty bad with scary movies. But I love playing with the genre! I also got to share the stage with horror legend Bradley Whitford from ‘Get Out’ and ‘Cabin in the Woods,’ so I was in good hands. Especially with the campier side of horror, the ones that make you laugh and jump at the same time. That’s the vibe we went for with Gushers ‘FruitHead’: creepy and totally over the top. And it's the kind of vibe that Bradley crushes.”
While the portrayals are on point, there is an underlying creepy element that has always been present in this campaign. Collins explained, “There’s something weirdly haunting about the original ’90s Gushers commercial that everyone remembers. The film is like revisiting a childhood memory that suddenly feels… cursed. That blend of ‘Wait, I know this!’ and ‘Why is this so creepy now?’ is what makes it so fun and effective to me.”
Fans of Collins’ viral characters know that he is willing to push creativity. His bold approach has people seeing a blurred line between fiction and reality.
When asked how his fans will react to his FruitHead role, Collins said, “I think they’re going to love it. I appeal to the meme-y, slightly chaotic side of the internet—so this is a great fit. They’ve seen me do a lot of offbeat characters before, so this feels pretty appropriate. Mike Diva also does similar work, so playing the cursed FruitHead actor under his direction really let me lean into that absurd, comedic horror vibe, which already fit right in my wheelhouse.”
While there were many takeaways from this experience, Collins sees how the concept can apply to characters that he creates. He said, “Working on the FruitHead film with Gushers reminded me how powerful it is when nostalgia and creativity collide. That’s the kind of energy I try to bring to my own content—bigger storytelling, more stylized visuals, and characters that feel like they jumped out of your nightmares and your For You Page.”
Since this campaign is for an iconic General Mills food brand, Collins had to share his favorite Gushers flavor. A longtime fan, his favorite choice is the Variety Pack. “Gushers are one of those snacks that immediately take you back to being younger again, but I still love them just as much now as I did back then!”
Although Gushers are never scary, there is one food that scared him. He shared, “I once tried Rocky Mountain Oysters and only learned what they were after the fact. That was a jump scare I’ll never recover from.”
When asked what projects he has on the horizon, Collins said, “I’ve got a few fun things in the works with some friends, but right now I’m all about this ‘FruitHead’ project. From working with Mike and Bradley to trying on the FruitHead costume, it’s been such a wild ride, and I can’t wait for people to see it. Watch the full short film on Gushers.com... if you dare.”
Images and video courtesy of Gushers
Tags: gushers, chester collins, bradley whitford, pop culture interview