Sony Secures Rights for Film Depicting 1980s Pepsi-Coke Rivalry, “Cola Wars,” for Nearly $1 Million
Sony Pictures Entertainment has made a substantial acquisition, procuring the script for “Cola Wars,” a forthcoming film centered on the fierce competition between soda giants Pepsi and Coca-Cola. Although the exact financial terms remain undisclosed, insider sources reveal that the deal closed for approximately $1 million.
Penned by Jason Shuman and Ben Queen, “Cola Wars” delves into the heated rivalry that unfolded between Pepsi and Coke, igniting fervent battles for supremacy in the soda market. Shuman, a seasoned producer with a longstanding affiliation with Sony, boasts an impressive portfolio, having co-created and written the acclaimed Apple series “Acapulco” and served as an executive producer for the HBO hit “Winning Time.” Additionally, he helmed production for the 2022 feature film, “To Leslie.”
Commencing in the mid-1970s, the Cola Wars captivated consumers as Pepsi and Coca-Cola engaged in a relentless struggle for dominance, marked by memorable marketing campaigns such as Pepsi’s iconic “Pepsi Challenge” and Coca-Cola’s introduction of “New Coke” in 1985.
Meanwhile, Ben Queen, currently involved in adapting Naomi Novik’s “His Majesty’s Dragon” for television, boasts a rich background as the writer for Pixar’s “Cars” sequels.
The acquisition of “Cola Wars” by Sony underscores the ongoing trend of nostalgia-driven storytelling, with a focus on revisiting iconic marketing phenomena of past decades. Recent successes like Amazon’s “Air,” chronicling the creation of Air Jordan sneakers, and Apple’s “The Beanie Bubble,” centered on Beanie Babies, attest to the public’s enduring fascination with nostalgic narratives.
Sony’s move to acquire “Cola Wars” follows closely on the heels of another significant announcement, wherein the studio unveiled plans for a series of biopics chronicling the legendary music band, The Beatles. This groundbreaking project, spearheaded by acclaimed director Sam Mendes, secured full life story and music rights from Apple Corps Ltd. and The Beatles’ members and families, offering an unprecedented glimpse into the band’s storied legacy.
