Travis Kelce and a lineup of NFL stars have stepped into the role of Roman gladiators in Pepsi’s newest ad campaign, released just hours before the Kansas City Chiefs kick off the 2024 NFL season. This latest commercial ties in with the highly anticipated Gladiator II film, which stars Hollywood heavyweights Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington, Joseph Quinn, and Connie Nielsen. The film revisits ancient Rome decades after the original Gladiator movie, and Pepsi saw the perfect opportunity to merge the film’s epic theme with the excitement of the upcoming NFL season.
The ad features Kelce alongside other football powerhouses, including Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry, and Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson. Adding to the star power, rapper Megan Thee Stallion appears in the commercial as the empress, commanding the gladiatorial arena as the NFL stars take center stage.
The three-minute commercial opens with two fans at a bar, deep in conversation about their fantasy football teams. They list off their players, which include Kelce, Allen, Henry, and Jefferson. As their drinks arrive, the familiar sound of Queen’s “We Will Rock You” begins, with the stomping and clapping building tension in the background. Suddenly, the Pepsi can’s rim morphs into the edge of a grand Roman coliseum, and the fans are transported into an ancient gladiator arena.
Emerging from the tunnel, Kelce, Allen, Henry, and Jefferson stride into the arena dressed in full gladiator regalia—breastplates, shields, and all—ready to battle. The crowd roars with excitement, but before the action begins, Kelce riles up the audience, shouting, “Are you ready?”
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Enter Megan Thee Stallion as the empress, who, with a commanding wave of her hand, silences the crowd and orders the gates to open, releasing a pack of ferocious tigers into the arena. With a mix of football skills and gladiator tactics, Kelce and the other athletes fend off the wild cats, dodging and outmaneuvering them as Megan breaks into a rap rendition of Queen’s classic anthem “We Will Rock You.”
As the battle intensifies, the NFL stars use their agility, strength, and quick thinking to outsmart the tigers, ultimately leading to the defeat of the final beast. With the arena secured, Megan descends into the battleground, confidently striding toward the athletes, Pepsi in hand. She takes a victorious sip and declares, “Let game day begin!” As the crowd erupts in celebration, everyone raises their Pepsi cans in unison, signaling the triumphant start of both the NFL season and the gladiatorial showdown.
The commercial is a nod to Pepsi’s history of gladiator-themed ads, bringing back memories of the iconic 2004 Super Bowl ad that featured pop stars Beyoncé, Britney Spears, and Pink as gladiators.
In that memorable spot, the singers delivered their own rendition of “We Will Rock You” while battling for their lives in the coliseum. Enrique Iglesias played the Emperor, who was humorously thrown into a lion’s den as the final twist. That commercial aired during the 2004 Super Bowl between the Carolina Panthers and the New England Patriots and became an instant classic.
With its new gladiator-themed campaign, Pepsi is once again blending the worlds of pop culture, sports, and entertainment.
As the 2024 NFL season begins, fans are sure to enjoy this epic, star-studded tribute to both the upcoming Gladiator II film and the excitement of game day.
