Pepsi, Purchase N.Y., unveiled its Gladiator-themed campaign titled “Make Your Gameday Epic.” As a longtime NFL sponsor, Pepsi is celebrating the start of the 2024 NFL season and the anticipated theatrical release of Paramount Pictures’ “Gladiator II,” with a short-film that will electrify game days for cola-lovers and NFL fans alike.
In the short-film, Megan Thee Stallion, as Empress Megan, leads a legion of NFL superstars turned Gridiron Gladiators, including Josh Allen, Derrick Henry, Justin Jefferson and Travis Kelce, locked in an epic battle with ice-cold Pepsi at the heart of the action.
A brand-new game day anthem from the three-time, Grammy award-winning artist soundtracks the campaign. The “boom, boom, clap” from Queen’s track “We Will Rock You” is featured on a fresh sample with cutting new lyrics from Megan. The new track is available on all major music streaming platforms, and ahead of Megan hosting the 2024 “VMAs” on Sept. 11, where the track and music-video inspired spot will show up throughout the show.
“I’m honored to follow in the footsteps of the legends who appeared in this Gladiator campaign 20 years ago and proud to have carved my own new legacy,” Megan said in a statement. “Pepsi really brought the worlds of music, sports and entertainment together in a powerful way to set off the new NFL season. It was fun putting my creative flip on such an iconic Queen song and I can't wait for the Hotties to hear it.”
Drawing inspiration from the upcoming “Gladiator II” film, which releases in theaters Nov. 22, and its predecessor, “Make Your Gameday Epic” is produced by Ridley Scott Associates, Paramount Brand Studio, and directed by Jake Scott in collaboration with Paramount Pictures. Leveraging the full breadth of Paramount Global’s platforms at launch, the spot opens with Lamorne Morris and Jake Lacy peering into a can of Pepsi Zero Sugar as it transforms into a colosseum. Empress Megan calls the shots, and the royal roster of NFL players are at her command as they all vie for her favor and a sip of an ice-cold Pepsi to officially "Let Gameday Begin”
“Bringing the epic world of Gladiator II to life in a modern, dynamic way through this Pepsi campaign was incredibly exciting,” Scott said in a statement. “We wanted to create a visual spectacle that captured the energy and intensity of the sport while also paying homage to the iconic film and the original Pepsi campaign. The collaboration with Pepsi and the incredible talent involved made this project truly unforgettable.”
Marc Weinstock, Paramount Pictures’ President of Worldwide Marketing and Distribution, added: “What started as a theatrical brand partnership evolved into one of the biggest promotional programs in our company’s history — spanning across theatrical marketing, CBS Sports and the Paramount Global networks. A film of this scope calls for a truly epic campaign, and we can think of no more fitting collaboration than with one of the most iconic brands in the world.”
Additional campaign extensions to get everyone thinking about the Roman Empire include:
• “My Roman Empire” Portrait Generator Tool: Picture yourself as a Gladiator or Roman Royalty with the help of “My Roman Empire” where you can upload or take a selfie and customize your look to share with your friends and followers at PepsiRomanEmpire.com
• Talking Cans: One-of-a-kind limited run of collectors 16-ounce cans featuring Pepsi’s Gladiator talent with built-in Augmented Reality capabilities that brings the can characters to life via content captured on-set. Limited quantities of the cans will be available via a consumer sweepstakes in early November.
• New Music: “We Will Rock You (Megan Thee Stallion Version)” available on all major music streaming platforms.
• 2024 MTV VMAs: Megan Thee Stallion is set to host the award show on Sept, 11, live from New York's UBS Arena, which will feature a Gladiator-themed moment and the exclusive premiere of a short film.
• Retail Rollout: In-store displays in both English and Spanish will feature “Make Your GameDay Epic” (“Prepárete Para Un Partido Épico”) across the nation.
• Fandango Offer: Buy $20 of Pepsi products and get a $10 Fandango movie reward toward a “Gladiator II” movie ticket. Spend $20 (excluding tax) on participating Pepsi beverage products (excluding fountain drinks) at any physical or online retailer in the U.S. between Oct. 6 and Dec. 6. Limited Fandango Promo Codes available, while supplies last.
"This gladiator-inspired campaign is a continuation of our brand’s long history of being on the forefront of culture, collaborating with iconic artists and celebrating football,” said Jenny Danzi, head of brand marketing at Pepsi, in a statement. “Consumers are going to see the scale of this campaign everywhere they shop, making sure everyone is getting ready for game day this fall with football, food, and ice-cold Pepsi. This seismic campaign captures the essence of the excitement and anticipation fans have for game day and delivers the kind of entertainment our audience has come to expect from us.”
