Nearly 20 years after Pepsi’s “Roman Empire” made its mark on pop culture, the brand is returning to the arena with a colossal Gladiator-themed campaign titled, “Make Your Gameday Epic™.” Celebrating the start of the 2024 NFL season and the highly anticipated release of Paramount Pictures’ Gladiator II in theaters on Nov. 22, this short film–directed by Jake Scott via RSA Films for Paramount Brand Studio features Megan Thee Stallion, as Empress Megan, leading 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 gameday anthem from three-time, Grammy award-winning artist Megan Thee Stallion soundtracks the campaign. The unmistakable “boom, boom, clap” from Queen’s epic track “We Will Rock You” is featured on a fresh sample with cutting new lyrics from Megan. The new track became available on all major music streaming platforms, and ahead of Megan hosting the 2024 MTV VMAs last night (9.11), where the track and music-video inspired spot were heard and seen 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,” said Megan Thee Stallion. “Pepsi really brought the worlds of music, sports and entertainment together in a powerful way to set off the new NFL season.”
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,” said Jake Scott. “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.”
CreditsClient Pepsi Agency Paramount Brand Studios Production Company RSA Films Jake Scott, director; Buddy Brakha, Luke Ricci, Emma Cairns, exec producers; Trent Opaloch, DP; Bill Leblanc, production designer. Production Service Company, Canada NorthKamp Production Service Company, Slovenia DIVISION.FILM Editorial The Assembly Rooms Jim Weedon, editor. VFX Framestore Jules Janaud, VFX supervisor and on-set supervisor; Anna McDonald, exec producer; Jake Saunders, producer; Matthew Thomas comp supervisor; Erik Weaver-Pronk, CG supervisor; Robyn Borrageiro, VFX coordinator. Color Company 3 Jean Clement Soret, Matthieu Toullet, colorists. Sound Design Bark Markus Ffitch, sound design & mix. Music Edit Eclectic Music
Director Gary Freedman, adam&eveDDB Bring The Power Of Lloyds’ Banking App To A Daddy-and-Daughter Day
U.K. retail and commercial financial services provider Lloyds has launched its biggest-ever multi-channel campaign celebrating its refreshed and rebranded mobile banking app. The fully integrated campaign, created in partnership with creative agency adam&eveDDB, global brand consultancy Wolff Olins and media agency Zenith, brings together more than 500 different assets across the app, campaign executions, activations and digital strategy spanning AV, audio, outdoor, social, digital, influencer and gaming channels.
Part of the campaign is this “Daddy Daughter” :60 in which a father and daughter enjoy a day together--with papa using his credit card via the Lloyds app to pay for most everything his little girl desires, from an ice cream cone to a boat ride, costume apparel, a helium balloon, a movie and popcorn. It all adds up and that appears a bit concerning to dad as they enter a toy store together. It all changes, though, when he’s about to purchase a large stuffed animal and suddenly the charge card on his app is declined. The awkward moment melts away when the girl says that’s all right, dad, and she skips out of the store.
His smartphone then reveals a smart feature on his Lloyds app--being able to freeze and unfreeze your card in an instant. He unfreezes his credit card once they’ve left the store.
Directed by Gary Freedman via production company MJZ, the charmingly humorous spot reflects the gist of the overall “The Power to do it all” campaign that’s designed to show how Lloyds’ revitalized mobile banking app puts the power of finance in people’s hands--for everyday banking and beyond.
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