PURCHASE, N.Y., Feb. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Everyone's
favorite Uncle is back. The beloved elderly alter ego "Uncle Drew,"
played by Cleveland Cavaliers star Kyrie Irving, is returning to
school fans on basketball commentary with the release of a new
"Uncle Drew" clip called All-Star Game. The content is available on
the all-new UncleDrew.com which is fully available tomorrow at the
start of NBA All-Star Weekend. Fans were able to preview the site
at the beginning of February for a glimpse of the digital
one-stop-shop for all things Uncle Drew. Fans will now have full
access to exclusive Uncle Drew merchandise, behind-the-scenes
footage of the cast's character transformations and the catalogue
of Uncle Drew episodes to date.
The vignette features Irving and returning co-stars including
former two-time NBA All-Star Baron
Davis as "Louis," and actor JB Smoove as
"Angelo." The storyline picks up from the chapter four prequel
with all three characters hanging out in their neighborhood pizza
parlor engaging in their signature back and forth banter about
basketball. New Uncle Drew shorts will be released throughout the
rest of this year's NBA season.
"With fresh and exciting content, Pepsi will look to reignite
the courtside excitement around Uncle Drew and continue its legacy
of rewarding fans with fun, exciting and authentic moments in pop
culture and sports," states Aziel
Rivers, Director, Pepsi Marketing. "With the availability of
brand new Uncle Drew merchandise on UncleDrew.com, we are really
able to show the evolution of the Uncle Drew brand which keeps fans
connected at multiple touch points both on and off the screen."
Next in line for the Uncle Drew franchise are plans to feature
Uncle Drew in a feature length film conceived, developed and
produced by PepsiCo's in-house content creation arm, Creators
League Studio.
"Every day, we continue to extend the equity of our iconic Pepsi
brand beyond the bottle," says Lou
Arbetter, General Manager, Creators League Studio. "Today's
consumers want to live the brand as much as consume it, and the
tremendous success we've had with the Uncle Drew franchise is a
perfect example of how we're building ecosystems around our
flagship brands. Pepsi and Kyrie Irving are looking forward
to expanding the Uncle Drew universe. We are excited for
the recent launches of both UncleDrew.com and a corresponding
merchandise line, and can confirm there are plans to feature Uncle
Drew in a feature length film."
Uncle Drew will return to
New Orleans at this year's NBA
All-Star Weekend for an Uncle Drew pop-up shop as the ultimate fan
experience. The space, modeled after Uncle Drew's favorite local
pizza joint, will feature never-before-seen Uncle Drew merchandise
not available online, Uncle Drew themed menu items and fan
meet-and-greet opportunities with Baron
Davis, Dr. J, J.B. Smoove along with other special
basketball greats. Pepsi's longtime media partner iHeartMedia will
also be on-site equipping fans with music, Uncle Drew prizes,
giveaways and more with famed radio personalities DJ Envy and DJ
Poppa.
For more information visit http://www.uncledrew.com and
#UncleDrew to join the conversation.
About PepsiCo:
PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers one billion times a
day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world.
PepsiCo generated more than $63 billion in net revenue
in 2015, driven by a complementary food and beverage portfolio
that includes Frito-Lay, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Quaker and
Tropicana. PepsiCo's product portfolio includes a wide range of
enjoyable foods and beverages, including 22 brands that generate
more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail
sales.
At the heart of PepsiCo is Performance with Purpose – our goal
to deliver top-tier financial performance while creating
sustainable growth and shareholder value. In practice, Performance
with Purpose means providing a wide range of foods and beverages
from treats to healthy eats; finding innovative ways to minimize
our impact on the environment and reduce our operating costs;
providing a safe and inclusive workplace for our employees
globally; and respecting, supporting and investing in the local
communities where we operate. For more information,
visit www.pepsico.com.
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SOURCE PepsiCo