Iconic filmmakerFrancis Ford Coppola’scurrent project,Megalopolis, has received unwanted attention due to rumors of production issues and press surroundingvarious studios' reactions to the film. According to the reports, Coppola’s upcoming movie has not only struggled with its production, but has also had a hard time gaining enthusiasm and support from studios and potential distributors.Megalopolisis a project that the director spent many years developing before its filming finally began in 2022. As a result, Coppola decided to self-fund the upcoming $120 million epic science fiction drama film to get the project running. Up until today, April 23, its distribution fate had been grim, butLe Pointenotes thatMegalopolismay have found its first distributor.
That would be Le Pacte, the French film company founded in 2007. Le Pacte recently had a huge success with the Palme d’Or and Oscar-winning film,Anatomy of a Fall, but has also distributed movies likeI, Daniel Blake, Maps to the Stars, The Neon Demon, O Mercy!, Paterson, R.M.N.,andThe Salt of the Earth.They’ve worked with some of the great directors(Cronenberg, Jarmusch, Loach, Desplechin, Refn, Varda, Moretti, Trier, Mungiu, Wenders, Kore-eda, Ozon), so Coppola would be in good company.
Megalopolisdefinitely needs French distribution at the very least if it wants to compete at Cannes this year (which it plans to). Cannes' rules stipulate that a film in competition must have a theatrical release in France and can’t head to a streaming platform for 17 months. This is what’s happened with films likeKillers of the Flower MoonandAnatomy of a Fallfrom the last Cannes Film Festival. Hopefully,Megalopolisgets a solid distribution from Le Pacte, and it will lead to other film companies gaining the confidence to pick up and distribute the film elsewhere.
Francis Ford Coppola Addresses Megalopolis Controversy with a Nod to Apocalypse Now
Francis Ford Coppola said ‘this is exactly what happened with Apocalypse Now 40 years ago.’
Francis Ford Coppola Responds to Alleged Problems with Megalopolis
Megalopolis
Many have speculated that the production ofMegalopoliswas a turbulent and disruptive one, something which Coppola and star Adam Driver have pushed back against. Speaking toDeadlinein January of 2023, Coppola spoke aboutMegalopolisand addressed the reports ofalleged on-set chaos. The director also talked about the production staff who left the project, which Coppola said was the result of “managing cost.”
Coppola stated, “I’ve never worked on a film where I was so happy with the cast.I am so happy with the lookand that we are so on schedule.” He added:
“These reports never say who these sources are. To them, I say, ha, ha, just wait and see. Because this is a beautiful film and primarily so because the cast is so great.I’ve never enjoyed working with a cast who are so hardworking and so willing to go search for the unconventional, to come upon hidden solutions. It is a thrill to work with these actors and the photography is everything I could hope for. The dailies are great. So if we’re on schedule, and I love the actors and the look is great, I don’t know what anyone’s talking about here.”
Coppola certainly wantsMegalopolisto hit theaters and get as much of an audience as possible. As he told Deadline, “I’m interested in a theatrical release in theaters and IMAX theatersand I am excited about the possibility that, for the first time in history, a movie could open up on the same day everywhere in the world. And that’s what my goal is.” Coppola then shared his highest goals for the film:
“My first goal was to make a love story with heart, but then you realizeit’s about love and disloyalty and every aspect of human life. It echoes many other aspects of human life, like our planet being in danger, but ultimately is a very optimistic film that has faith in the human ability to heal any problem that is put before us."
Watch this space for more information about the release ofMegalopolis.
