From Joe Peltzer

With his self-financed sci-fi extravaganza Megalopolis set to release (via Lionsgate) in late September, director Francis Ford Coppola finds himself embroiled in accusations of inappropriate behavior on the film’s set.

First reported by The Guardian, the director allegedly attempted to kiss and hug extras to “get them in the mood” for a nightclub scene, one featuring star Nathalie Emmanuel (Arthur the King, The Invitation). The scene features nude and scantily clad female party goers. At one point, a source claims that Coppola took to the microphone to state, “Sorry, if I come up to you and kiss you. Just know it’s solely for my pleasure.”

In what seems like corroboration of these claims (though this has not been verified), Variety has obtained video of the referenced scene and Coppola approaching an extra. See the video on X (formerly Twitter) via One Take News.

Megalopolis is a passion project of Coppola’s and stars Adam Driver, Giancarlo Esposito, and John Voight (among others). The film premiered to wildly mixed reactions at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.

(Source: Variety)