Pepsi’s epic ‘Gladiator II’ ad with Megan Thee Stallion recalls its famous 2004 blockbuster

Pepsi continues to find treasures in its advertising vault, particularly those that stitch the brand to legacy moments in pop culture and music. And it knows a hit when it hears one. The brand today is releasing its second take on “We Will Rock You,” which it first modernized behind the trio of Britney Spears, Beyoncé and Pink in 2004. This time, the Queen classic is interpreted by Megan Thee Stallion and accompanies a three-minute video promoting both the forthcoming movie “Gladiator II” and the NFL. The football season begins tonight, and Pepsi is an official sponsor of the league. “Make Your Gameday Epic” stars NFL players Josh Allen, Derrick Henry, Justin Jefferson and Travis Kelce as gladiators forced to use football skills to stave off a pack of tigers, while Megan Thee Stallion is a rapping colosseum empress. The action unfolds from an inside Pepsi can and is witnessed by fantasy-football-playing friends. The new track is available now on all major music streaming platforms. It will be featured during MTV’s 2024 Video Music Awards o Sept. 11, which Megan Thee Stallion will host. Paramount Pictures’ “Gladiator II,” directed by Ridley Scott, premieres in theaters on Nov. 22. Its recently released trailer shares a scene with the Pepsi ad, which was directed by Jake Scott, Ridley’s son. Pepsi worked with Paramount Pictures, Ridley Scott Associates, Paramount Brand Studio, OMD/ContentCollective and Acceleration Community of Companies for PR on the project. Pepsi last year revived some of its classic music video commercials from the 1980s and 1990s, remastering Madonna, Britney Spears and Robert Palmer videos to celebrate its 125th anniversary. More recently, the brand produced a modern take on its Shaquille O’Neal-led ads of the 1990s. Campaign extensions include a “My Roman Empire” portrait generation tool allowing fans to upload their photo and see themselves as a gladiator or Roman royalty, as well as limited-edition 16-ounce cans with built-in augmented reality capabilities that can bring characters from the can to life. Pepsi will also be rolling out retail displays nationwide and is offering consumers who buy $20 worth of Pepsi products a $10 Fandango reward toward a “Gladiator II” movie ticket. More Creativity coverage from Ad Age: Sign up for our daily Creativity newsletter to see the best stories of the day.

Pepsi’s epic ‘Gladiator II’ ad with Megan Thee Stallion recalls its famous 2004 blockbuster

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