Photo Credit:Presley Ann/Getty Images for TCM.
Sony Pictures has secured a dynamic duo for its upcoming film ‘Cola Wars’, a project that will dive into the historic rivalry between Coca-Cola and Pepsi during the 1980s. Directed by Judd Apatow and produced by Steven Spielberg under his Amblin Entertainment banner, the film promises to chronicle one of the most intense marketing battles in history.
The film's script, penned by Jason Shuman (Acapulco) and Ben Queen (Cars 3), will focus on Pepsi’s ambitious efforts to topple Coca-Cola’s century-long dominance in the cola industry. This period, known as the “Cola Wars,” saw major events like Michael Jackson’s Pepsi commercial mishap, which left him injured, and Coca-Cola’s disastrous launch of “New Coke,” a formula that sparked outrage among loyal consumers.
The ‘Cola Wars’ film, although still in early development, is already drawing comparisons to other successful business biopics like ‘Air’, which explored Nike’s battle to sign Michael Jordan. With a combination of humor and drama, Apatow’s direction is expected to inject new life into this corporate rivalry, much like recent films have done with consumer culture stories such as ‘BlackBerry’ and ‘Dumb Money’.
For Apatow, known for his comedies like ‘The 40-Year-Old Virgin’, Cola Wars represents a shift into more historical and business-driven narratives, while Spielberg’s involvement signals the film’s potential to delve deep into the cultural significance of the cola giants’ rivalry. Although no release date has been set, the collaboration between these two heavyweights is generating significant buzz and high expectations for what could be another hit in the business biopic genre.
Fans of marketing sagas and corporate drama are eagerly awaiting more news as ‘Cola Wars’ moves forward, with high hopes for a fascinating retelling of one of the most iconic advertising battles in history.
