“Some places are like people: some shine and some don't.” Those foreboding words, spoken by Dick Hallorann, the compassionate telepath in Stanley Kubrick's The Shining, still hold true in just about every context today, and maybe most potently within the world of sneakers. Some designs fade into the ether, never to be thought of again, while others become perennial grails, coveted generation after generation.
Mirroring the surrealist aesthetic of the cult-classic horror film, albeit with a touch more levity and humor, adidas Originals returns with its latest Superstar campaign as an ode to those who define the now and whose impact will last a lifetime… and then some. Producing its own award-worthy short, the iconic three stripes taps culture’s leading man, Samuel L. Jackson, to narrate and head up a star-studded cast that embodies the timeless spirit of the staple silhouette.
The abstract short opens with a pensive Jackson “driving” down an open road, grasping for a memory just beyond his reach. In a flash, he’s transported into an eerie hotel corridor (Overlook perhaps?), barefoot and baffled by his new environment and the strange events occurring within it. Just as he’s introduced to his fellow guests, among them Kendall Jenner, football phenom Lamine Yamal, skater Tyshawn Jones, pro-hooper James Harden, and chart-topping musicians JENNIE, Baby Keem, and Olivia Dean, everything becomes clear: “Most folks make moments…but some make movements.”
What was once outright confusion is soon replaced by complete coherence as it becomes increasingly apparent that each of these personalities, spanning disciplines and industries, is an innovative arbiter in their own right. Anchoring their connection is the adidas Originals Superstar, a symbolic bond linking them all together.
A sneaker whose history has become embedded in cultural lore — created to perform, celebrated for its influence — the Superstar has transcended its intended purpose, growing into an emblem of enduring legacy for all to admire.
Headlining the new adidas Originals Spring 2026 collection, a capsule marked by track-inspired gear, denim shorts, and jacquard jerseys, the trademark shoe gets a refreshed edge for the season, boasting a clean, modern polish with nostalgic styling. Energizing the classic black-and-white palette with bold, eye-catching red accents, the Superstar reinvents itself without losing what made it great in the first place.
Save for a pair of creepy twins and a murderous Jack Nicholson, the newest campaign from adidas Originals has the makings of an all-time showing. But instead of ending on an ambiguous twist that leaves viewers wondering what’s true and what isn’t, this spot is decisive in its message. “Some prints show you where they’ve been,” Jackson muses. “But these show us where we’ve always been going.”
Shop the adidas Originals Superstars and the new Spring 2026 collection at adidas.com.
