Pepsi ‘Gladiator II’ Blockbuster Ad Starring Megan Thee Stallion, Travis Kelce to Kick Off NFL Season

Pro football players Josh Allen, Derrick Henry and Justin Jefferson are also headed to the Colosseum as part of the Make Your Gameday Epic commercial.

Megan Thee Stallion and the NFL‘ star’s Travis Kelce are set to star in a blockbuster Pepsi TV commercial inspired by Paramount’s upcoming Gladiator II epic movie.

Also making Colosseum appearances to kick off the 2024 NFL season with the “Make Your Gameday” commercial will be soda-swilling football stars Josh Allen, Derrick Henry and Justin Jefferson.

Megan Thee Stallion travis kelce freddie mercury

The latest colossal Gladiator-themed ad campaign — merging the worlds of music, sports and entertainment — comes after the epic 2004 Super Bowl commercial Roman Empire that starred Beyoncé, Britney Spears and Pink.

Pepsi is once again getting behind a Gladiator movie release, this time ahead of the sequel from Paramount Pictures that hits theaters Nov. 22. Ridley Scott directed Paramount’s follow-up to his 2000 historical epic that starred Russell Crowe and won five Academy Awards.

Gladiator II stars Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington, Joseph Quinn and Connie Nielsen raising their swords several decades after the events of the first movie in ancient Rome.

The latest Pepsi ad will feature Megan Thee Stallion as Empress Megan, as she leads a legion of NFL superstars turned Gridiron Gladiators locked in an epic battle with the ice-cold beverage at the heart of the action.

The spot will open with Lamorne Morris and Jake Lacy peering into a can of Pepsi Zero Sugar, just as it transforms into a Colosseum. Empress Megan then calls the shots and the 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!” as the Colosseum transforms into an NFL stadium.

Megan Thee Stallion will also present a new gameday anthem as campaign soundtrack, with the recognizable “boom, boom, clap” from Queen’s “We Will Rock You” song backing the lyrics.

“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,” Megan Thee Stallion said in a statement.

The Make Your Gameday Epic campaign is produced by Ridley Scott Associates, Paramount Brand Studio and is directed by Jake Scott.