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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 Sambergis recalling his memorable first encounter withJason Momoa.
In an interview with PEOPLE on the set of hisHellmann's 2026 Super Bowl commercial, theBrooklyn Nine-Ninestar, 47, shared how he met theMinecraft Movieactor, 46, at theSNL50th Anniversary Special afterparty, and how the introduction helped spark their upcoming movie,Protecting Jared.
"I had never met him and then last year at theSNL50th 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 toProduction Weekly,Protecting Jaredfollows 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."
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In January, PEOPLE exclusively revealed that Samberg had taken on the starring role inHellmann'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'sWhen Harry Met Sallyreunion. "I thought there was probably going to be some fun to be had," he shared.
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TheSaturday Night Livealum is also a big fan of theSweet Carolinesinger.
"Love Neil Diamond," Samberg continues. "Not just him, but I also love Will Ferrell's impression of him he used to do onSNL."
"He's an American classic, and he writes songs people want to sing along to," he adds.
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