Published by Cel Manero from Global One Media Inc.
“I feel like it’s a rite of passage that all the baddies have to experience,” the rapper shares with PEOPLE about collaborating with Pepsi for the new commercial.
Megan Thee Stallion feels like she’s officially reached a major milestone.
The 29-year-old rapper stars in Pepsi’s new campaign, “Make Your Gameday Epic,” ahead of the 2024-2025 NFL season. In the ad, Megan takes on the role of Empress Megan, leading NFL stars Travis Kelce, Josh Allen, Derrick Henry, and Justin Jefferson in a gladiator-style showdown, inspired by the upcoming Gladiator II movie. The commercial features a revamped version of Queen’s “We Will Rock You,” with new lyrics by the Grammy-winning artist.
In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Megan reflected on how working with Pepsi made her realize the magnitude of her fame. “People always ask me, ‘When did you feel like you made it?’… Even though I’ve done so many cool things, this is the first time I’ve thought, ‘Oh wait, I might actually be famous,'” she laughs.
“A Pepsi commercial is a big deal,” Megan says. “It feels like a rite of passage for all the baddies—like Beyoncé, Britney Spears, and Pink—and now Megan Thee Stallion.”
The three-minute commercial kicks off with two football fans, played by Lamorne Morris and Jake Lacy, sitting in a bar discussing their fantasy football lineups for the upcoming NFL season.
After they both order Pepsi, the duo, Morris (41) and Lacy (39), are suddenly transported to a Roman coliseum-like arena, where NFL stars Travis Kelce (34), Josh Allen (28), Derrick Henry (30), and Justin Jefferson (25) are gathered at the center.
Megan Thee Stallion then makes her entrance, commanding the arena’s gates to be opened, releasing tigers that the players must join forces to overcome.
At the end of the video, Megan, who is scheduled to host the 2024 Video Music Awards on September 11, joins the four men and picks up a Pepsi. “Let game day start!” she announces.
The four players are then whisked away to an NFL field, while the two men in the bar find themselves back in their seats.
Subsequently, Kelce appears on a TV screen and echoes a famous line from the original Gladiator film, asking, “What? Are you not entertained?”
The new campaign, directed by Jake Scott, son of Ridley Scott, in partnership with Paramount Pictures, is generating a lot of excitement.
Jake Scott, 59, expressed his enthusiasm in a statement: “It was incredibly thrilling to bring the epic world of Gladiator II to life in a fresh, dynamic manner through this Pepsi campaign. Our goal was to create a visual spectacle that encapsulates the energy and intensity of the sport while honoring the iconic film and Pepsi’s original campaign. Collaborating with Pepsi and the talented individuals involved made this project truly memorable.”
Regarding her experience recording her version of Queen’s “We Will Rock You,” Megan shared with PEOPLE, “I called my producer and said, ‘We’re about to create a song for Pepsi … ‘We Will Rock You,’ the Hot Girl version. What should I include?'”
She continued, “The song is already so legendary, but I wanted Pepsi to really love it. They gave me a lot of creative freedom, so I wrote the song in the studio that day and hoped they would like it. Now, it’s going to be featured in a commercial.”