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Fox is stepping into the world of fast food nostalgia, merging gourmet flavors with pop culture, by investing in Chain—a buzzy culinary pop-up co-founded by B.J. Novak, best known for The Office. The project is gaining momentum through a partnership with Gordon Ramsay’s Studio Ramsay Global, signaling a curious, and quite tasty, alliance between comfort food and television.
Chain, where fast food gets the haute cuisine treatment
It all started in West Hollywood. The idea was pretty simple, but clever: take classic chain restaurant staples and reimagine them through the lens of a Michelin-starred chef. That’s what Timothy Hollingsworth, one of Chain’s co-founders, did when he teamed up with B.J. Novak and others to bring beloved dishes back to the spotlight—with an upscale twist. Think Pizza Hut-level cravings, crafted with fine-dining flair.
The first pop-ups quickly gained a cult following. Chain embraced nostalgia and fun, but the execution was top-tier. Soon, they were collaborating with big names: Taco Bell, McDonald’s, Panda Express, Pop-Tarts, Pepsi, Dunkin’, Jack in the Box…
Honestly, the idea of tasting a high-end rework of a Pop-Tart might sound bizarre. But in a food world often obsessed with uniqueness, there’s something disarmingly smart about elevating the familiar—it’s like comfort food with a wink. To read Gwen Stefani headlines magical 2025 Disney Christmas Parade
Expanding beyond the plate: from food to film
Chain didn’t stop at food. The brand began weaving itself into pop culture events, partnering with Paramount for Scream VI and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. They also linked up with Disney to cross-promote through menus and visuals that nod to big releases.
So it’s not just about gourmet takes on fast food—it’s storytelling through the lens of what we eat.
As part of the new agreement with Fox, Chain Media now has a first-look development deal that could lead to digital content, video integrations, and more culinary-movie crossovers. Some of this could land on Bite, Studio Ramsay’s digital food platform, or appear as short-format videos through Holywater, another Fox-backed platform focused on AI-powered microdramas.
A strategic move for Fox and Studio Ramsay
Rob Wade, CEO of Fox Entertainment, described the investment as a natural step in the company’s strategy to lean further into food-related digital storytelling. “We see the synergy,” he said, pointing out the cultural momentum behind food content and how Chain’s playful attitude wrapped in nostalgia speaks to young, engaged audiences.
Studio Ramsay Global already has hits like Next Level Chef and the upcoming Gordon Ramsay’s Secret Service. Bringing Chain into that universe could bring a more experimental and quirky tone to their lineup. And let’s be honest—Ramsay screaming about reimagined Breakfast Jack sandwiches? That’s entertainment. To read Toho expands into Europe with bold anime distribution moves
The people behind the concept
Chain is more than just B.J. Novak’s brainchild. The team also includes Jack Davis, Abe Burns, Byron Ashley, chef Timothy Hollingsworth, and Nicholas Kraft, who leads creative strategy. If that lineup sounds more like a production company than a restaurant team, that’s part of the point: Chain lives between food and media.
And they’re not going it alone. Along with this new partnership, Fox joins existing investor Connect Ventures in the latest funding round. Previously, Animal Capital (run by Marshall Sandman), Palm Tree Crew, Able Partners, and Chrissy Teigen—yes, that Chrissy—also backed the company. Teigen even acts as a strategic advisor.
A few reasons why this evolution of Chain makes sense:
- Food content is booming, especially on social and streaming platforms.
- Nostalgia sells—and Chain taps into comfort food memories with a twist.
- The partnership with a media giant like Fox gives Chain more visibility and resources.
- Studio Ramsay brings culinary credibility and content know-how.
From where I sit, this feels like the kind of collision between food and pop culture that’s hard to resist. Chain isn’t just about reinvented nuggets and fancy Big Macs—it’s about how food stories are told, and more importantly, how they make us feel. And with the right mix of creative energy and backing, I wouldn’t be surprised if Chain ends up as more than just a taste—it could be this generation’s next cultural food moment.
