Serendipia Posted September 6 Share Posted September 6 Image: PepsiCo / PR Newswire Pepsi has unveiled its latest marketing masterpiece, the Make Your Gameday Epic campaign, which creatively merges the excitement of the NFL with the grandeur of ancient Rome. Drawing inspiration from Paramount Pictures' upcoming Gladiator II, featuring Paul Mescal and Denzel Washington, this ambitious project brings together a diverse array of talent from the worlds of music, sports, and entertainment. At the heart of the campaign is a visually striking short film that reimagines NFL stars as 'Gridiron Gladiators' in a contemporary Colosseum-turned-stadium. The ad cleverly opens with actors Lamorne Morris and Jake Lacy peering into a Pepsi Zero Sugar can, which magically transforms into this epic arena. Overseeing this spectacle is none other than rapper Megan Thee Stallion, cast as 'Empress Megan,' who leads a group of NFL superstars including Travis Kelce, Josh Allen, Derrick Henry, and Justin Jefferson. Image: PepsiCo / PR Newswire The campaign's impressive pedigree is evident in its production team: it's a collaborative effort between Ridley Scott Associates, Paramount Brand Studio, and Paramount Pictures, with Jake Scott at the helm as director. Adding to the campaign's impact, Megan Thee Stallion has put her own spin on Queen's legendary anthem,We Will Rock You. Her version, aptly titled We Will Rock You (Megan Thee Stallion Version), serves as the campaign's soundtrack and is now available on major streaming platforms. Pepsi's campaign extends its reach through various digital and in-person activations: 'My Roman Empire' Portrait Generator: Fans can transform their selfies into gladiator or Roman royalty portraits at PepsiRomanEmpire.com. Augmented Reality Cans: Limited edition 16oz cans featuring campaign talent come to life through AR technology. MTV VMAs Tie-In: Megan Thee Stallion will host the award show on September 11, live from New York's UBS Arena. The show will include a special Gladiator-themed moment and the exclusive premiere of a short film. Retail Presence: Nationwide in-store displays will showcase the campaign in both English (Make Your GameDay Epic) and Spanish (Prepárate Para Un Partido Épico). Fandango Promotion: Customers can earn a $10 movie reward towards a Gladiator II movie ticket with a $20 Pepsi product purchase. This campaign cleverly references Pepsi's Roman Empire ad from nearly two decades ago, which featured pop icons Britney Spears, Beyoncé, and Pink. By updating this concept with current NFL stars and a popular music artist, Pepsi demonstrates its ability to evolve while maintaining brand consistency. Pepsi's use of NFL talent also reflects a growing trend in advertising. Recent campaigns have seen players like the Kelce brothers partnering with General Mills for the 'Kelce Mix' cereal, while Brock Purdy and Saquon Barkley starred in Applebee's campaign. Not to be outdone, Little Caesars has kicked off the NFL season with its own star-studded lineup featuring George Kittle, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Justin Jefferson. These collaborations highlight the increasing marketability of NFL stars beyond the football field. So, what’s your verdict? Does this new epic Pepsi campaign featuring Megan Thee Stallion and NFL stars resonate more with you, or do you find yourself nostalgic for the 2004 version with Britney Spears, Beyoncé, and Pink? https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pepsi-kicks-off-2024-nfl-season-with-colossal-campaign-inspired-by-paramount-pictures-upcoming-gladiator-ii-starring-megan-thee-stallion-and-nfl-superstars-josh-allen-derrick-henry-justin-jefferson-and-travis-kelce-302238558.html https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/paramount-pepsi-gladiator-megan-thee-stallion-nfl-advertising-1236131195/ https://deadline.com/2024/09/megan-thee-stallion-travis-kelce-gladiator-ii-pepsi-1236078675/ https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/gladiator-2-pepsi-ad-megan-thee-stallion-travis-kelce-1235992089/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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