Summary
- Megalopolis
is a long-awaited sci-fi epic by Francis Ford Coppola, inspired by ancient Rome and set in a futuristic New York. - After decades of setbacks, Coppola finally completed the film in 2023, facing budget issues and mixed industry reactions.
- Megalopolis
is set to premiere at the 77th Cannes Film Festival on May 17, 2024.
One of 2024’s most anticipated films is the sci-fi epic Megalopolis by Francis Ford Coppola. It’s the acclaimed filmmaker’s first directorial work since 2011’s Twixt, making this the longest gap between his movies. But that’s not the only reason this film is so highly anticipated. Megalopolis has been a longtime passion project of Coppola’s – a very, very long time.
After being stuck in developmental hell for decades, Megalopolis finally exists and is now ready for the big screen. The film’s lead actor, Adam Driver, has called the movie “undefinable,” hinting that it’s a unique cinematic work. But what is Megalopolis exactly? And why did it take Coppola so long to make? Let’s go back in time, almost 50 years, and look at the timeline of Megalopolis, from its conception to its upcoming premiere.
What Is Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis?
While filming another longtime passion project of his, Apocalypse Now, Francis Ford Coppola first conceived the idea for Megalopolis in 1977. Set in a re-imagined modern America, an architect with the ability to control time faces opposition as he tries to rebuild Manhattan into a utopia after a devastating disaster destroys the city. The story essentially places the ancient Roman Empire in a futuristic New York, merging the two to create the aesthetic and world of the film and provide a social commentary on America and its uncertain future.
The idea was largely inspired by sci-fi classics like Fritz Lang’s 1927 film Metropolis and William Cameron Menzies’s 1936 film Things to Come, as well as dangerous, real-life scientific experiments. The film’s main character, later renamed Cesar, was inspired by the ancient Roman politician and soldier Catiline, as well as famous architects like Frank Lloyd Wright. Richard Beggs, the sound designer on Apocalypse Now, extravagantly described Coppola’s vision as a “gigantic opera, shown over four nights in some place as close as possible to the geographical center of the United States.” Sounds enticing, doesn’t it?
Megalopolis Enters Developmental and Production Hell
Although he conceived the idea in 1977, Coppola didn’t start working on Megalopolis until 1983. Within two months, he had a whopping 400 pages of notes and script fragments for the screenplay. However, other directorial projects sidelined Megalopolis until 1991, after the release of The Godfather: Part III. Coppola’s production company, American Zoetrope, announced several upcoming projects, including the long-awaited Megalopolis.
To bring the Roman aesthetic to life, Coppola was determined to shoot the movie in Cinecittà Studios, a large film studio in Rome, Italy. Offices and an art studio were even set up there so Coppola’s team could begin storyboarding the movie. But Coppola was forced to take on other directorial projects, like Bram Stoker’s Dracula and Jack with Robin Williams, to get himself out of debt and fund Megalopolis, which once again postponed the film.
It wasn’t until around 2001 that Coppola finally picked Megalopolis back up. He brought in Jim Steranko to create concept art for the movie. His production team also put together a budget – about $50-$70 million at the time – and held table reads with iconic actors like Robert De Niro, Leonardo DiCaprio, Russell Crowe, and his nephew Nicolas Cage. Coppola even recorded roughly 30 hours of second-unit footage of New York City for the film. However, the 9/11 attacks in Manhattan halted production and left Coppola conflicted about continuing with Megalopolis.
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The director still worked on Megalopolis here and there. In 2002, he shot additional footage on high-definition video. In 2006, he asked Osvaldo Golijov to compose the soundtrack for his nonexistent movie. Over the next few decades, Coppola collected clippings and notes for a scrapbook on intriguing subjects and details that he might include in the screenplay. But for the most part, Megalopolis was trapped in developmental hell.
Coppola’s biggest problem at this point was securing funds for the movie. He didn’t think he could find a production studio that would dish out the necessary budget. Thanks to the tremendous success of his winery and resorts, Coppola could fortunately use his own money to make Megalopolis, but he was reluctant to produce the film himself. It seemed like the truth was finally hitting Coppola, a truth that his 1989 biographer had alluded to in the book Francis Ford Coppola: A Filmmaker’s Life. Megalopolis was “so big and complicated that it would seem impossible” to actually pull off.
Megalopolis Is Finally Made, but Problems Persist
Fast-forward to 2019. Coppola finally decided it was time to take the dream in his head since 1977 and turn it into a reality. He sold off a portion of his wine empire and used that money to produce Megalopolis – approximately $120 million. Many stars came and went during pre-production, including Zendaya and Oscar Isaac. Ultimately, Adam Driver signed on to play the main character Cesar, starring alongside other notable names like Giancarlo Esposito, Aubrey Plaza, Shia LaBeouf, Jon Voight, Laurence Fishburne, and Dustin Hoffman. James Caan, who had famously worked with Coppola on The Godfather, had agreed to appear in the film but died before production took place.
Coppola didn’t shoot Megalopolis in Italy as he originally wanted. He instead settled for Atlanta and lots of visual effects. However, although filming had finally commenced, Megalopolis still encountered issues. Coppola fired most of the visual effects team in December 2022. Several crew members left the project, including production designer Beth Mickle and the film’s entire art department. And in classic Coppola fashion, there were reports that the film had blown past its budget, though Coppola later denied these claims.
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After nearly 50 years of setbacks, Coppola finally completed Megalopolis in 2023. But the obstacles of this film still aren’t behind him. Coppola held an early industry screening for studio executives to secure distribution – and reactions to the film were mixed. Some executives praised it as a unique and visionary cinematic work that pushes the boundaries of filmmaking while masterfully blending genres. Others weren’t as impressed and found it to be a costly risk. Megalopolis is set to premiere at the 77th Cannes Film Festival on May 17, 2024, which will tell us just how good this movie really is.
Looking Ahead to the Legacy of Megalopolis and Coppola
Coppola has compared these polarizing early reviews to the initial reactions of his 1979 film, Apocalypse Now. In fact, the two movies share many similarities. Both films were passion projects of Coppola’s that faced developmental obstacles, ballooning budgets, and casting drama. Both films had their share of naysayers, who thought the ambitious Coppola had bitten off more than he could chew and received a muted reaction at early screenings. Both films will premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. What happened at the premiere of Apocalypse Now? It was honored with the Palme d’Or, the highest prize awarded at Cannes, and became a box office success and a cinematic icon. Is history about to repeat itself?
But perhaps more importantly – will Megalopolis live up to the hype? Will it be the masterpiece that Coppola envisioned? Will it be his magnum opus, the film that defines his legacy? We’re talking about the man who directed The Godfather, which is universally regarded as one of the greatest films of all time, so probably not. But at the same time, this is Coppola’s first directorial effort in 13 years, and the man is now 85 years old. This may be his last movie, which he leaves us with before stepping away from the camera.
For better or worse, Megalopolis will be a crucial piece of Coppola’s cinematic legacy. In just a few weeks, we’ll have a better idea of whether the film was worth the wait – for audiences and for Coppola himself. Megalopolis does not have an official wide release date.
