Steve McQueen, the legendary “king of cool,” known for his love for motorcycles, is making his mark in the Web3 space. A unique NFT collection, honoring the iconic actor, will be unveiled on July 14. The project is a collaboration between the McQueen Estate, Web3 talent agency Verified Labs, contemporary artist Michael Kalish, Triumph Motorcycles, and Web3 animation studio Immersive Entertainment Laboratories (IEL). With 1,000 generative art collectibles featuring distinct rarity traits, this collection aims to pay tribute to McQueen’s indomitable spirit.
To facilitate the sale of these digitally immersive pieces, the ThetaDrop platform, part of the Theta network, will serve as the marketplace. The idea for this project originated from a captivating portrait of McQueen, created by artist Michael Kalish in 2022. The process involved the participation of Chase, McQueen’s grandson.
The exclusive “King of Cool Racing Team” collection offers more than just a digital asset. Each NFT collector will receive a digital motorcycle shipping crate, acting as a gateway to their one-of-a-kind virtual Triumph Bonneville T100 Motorcycle. By unlocking the crate, owners also secure their membership to the King of Cool Racing Team. This membership grants access to future token-gated content, events, and games.
In addition to the virtual motorcycle, each collectible includes a detailed 3D portrait of Steve McQueen. This digital artwork can be explored more intricately using a virtual reality headset.
McQueen, renowned for his roles in films like “The Cincinnati Kid” and “The Towering Inferno,” was not only a celebrated actor but also a passionate motorcycle enthusiast. He actively participated in off-road competitions such as the Baja 1000 and the Elsinore Grand Prix, showcasing his competitive spirit and expertise in the field. Furthermore, he represented the United States in the 1964 International Six Days Trial (ISDT).
Artist Michael Kalish, a key figure in this project, emphasized the influence of Americana in his artwork, a concept greatly impacted by McQueen throughout his career. Kalish expressed his excitement about partnering with the Steve McQueen family, stating, “There is so much overlap in our love of cars, motorcycles, family, American Iconic objects and moments.”
Steve McQueen’s entry into the blockchain space follows the trend of honoring late celebrities through NFTs. Last April, the estate of martial artist Bruce Lee collaborated with Shibuya to introduce Bruce Lee NFTs. This initiative exemplifies how iconic figures are reborn on the blockchain, highlighting the immense potential of the Web3 era.