Air NZ teams up with All Blacks for new safety video

Air New Zealand has teamed up with the All Blacks and an all-star line-up of international rugby greats to tackle the airline's latest on board safety video, Men in Black Safety Defenders.

Inspired by the global film franchise Men in Black, Air New Zealand's latest safety instalment features All Blacks' captain Richie McCaw and Dan Carter as Men in Black agents.

Starring alongside the two long-serving All Blacks is coach Steve Hansen and teammates Kieran Read, Keven Mealamu, Sam Whitelock and Israel Dagg, who gets to test his vocals alongside Kiwi musician Stan Walker.

American actor Rip Torn reprises his role as chief of the Men in Black with Wallabies great David Campese, former England captain Martin Johnson and former Argentinian captain Agustin Pichot making cameo appearances.

McCaw said the players enjoyed making the video.

"We had a lot of laughs on set and were blown away by Israel's hidden singing talent. If rugby doesn't work out for him he clearly has a promising career as a back-up singer."

Wallabies great Campese said his appearance in the video was likely to come at a cost.

"I'm expecting to get a right ribbing from my mates for appearing in a video promoting the All Blacks ... They'll never let me live it down."

The airline said the video was created in collaboration with Sony Pictures.

"We've worked with the All Blacks on previous safety videos and thought it would be fun this time around to have them step into the shoes of the other highly trained Men in Black," the airline's head of global brand development, Jodi Williams, said.

"The result is not only entertaining but makes people sit up and take notice of the key safety messages."

Sony Pictures Entertainment executive vice president Emmanuelle Borde said: "The creative concept and the parallels drawn between the All Blacks and the Men in Black are really clever. It's been exciting to help Air New Zealand bring the Men in Black universe to life in this unique way."