New Pepsi “We Will Rock You” Campaign Ties Into GLADIATOR II
It’s been almost 20 years since Pepsi released its “Roman Empire” TV spot featuring Britney Spears, Beyonce, and Pink. But, now they’ve got a new one featuring Queen’s “We Will Rock You” and this time it’s tied to Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II.
The campaign is called “Make Your Gameday Epic” and it was made to hype the start of the new NFL season, and it features Megan Thee Stallion as Empress Megan along with NFL superstars turned Gridiron Gladiators Josh Allen, Derrick Henry, Justin Jefferson and Travis Kelce, who are locked in an epic battle with Pepsi at the heart of the action.
The spot also features Saturday Night‘s Lamorne Morris and The White Lotus’s Jake Lacy.
Megan Thee Stallion said in a statement: “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.
“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!”
Director Jake Scott said: “Bringing the epic world of Gladiator II to life in a modern, dynamic way through this Pepsi campaign was incredibly exciting.
“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 & 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 on than with one of the most iconic brands in the world.”
Jenny Danzi, Head of Brand Marketing – Pepsi said: “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.
“Consumers are going to see the scale of this campaign everywhere they shop, making sure everyone is getting ready for gameday this fall with football, food, and ice-cold Pepsi.
“This seismic campaign captures the essence of the excitement and anticipation fans have for gameday and delivers the kind of entertainment our audience has come to expect from us!”
Enjoy the commercial below!