From Ryan Cordaro

Update (8:03pm): Eagle-eyed viewers were quick to point out that many of the quotes used in the Megalopolis trailer, presented to show that past films from Francis Ford Coppola also received divisive critiques, were seemingly made up. Lionsgate has since pulled the trailer, stating “We screwed up. We are sorry.” (Source: Deadline)

It’s no question that Francis Ford Coppola is a legend in film history. Anyone who knows about movies would most likely know the name Coppola, but even outside of that, his work is etched into film history. Everyone knows what The Godfather is. Everyone knows what Apocalypse Now is. Everyone should know what Bram Stoker’s Dracula is. Even with the more controversial aspects of Coppola’s career and life (including ones on the set of this movie that I won’t get into), it feels like his name and some of his work will echo throughout film for the rest of time. Not many people can say that about one person in film history, so I think it’s worth at least checking out whatever this guy makes. Now, for the first time in over a decade, we can say that there’s a new Francis Ford Coppola movie coming out this year.

Megalopolis, the long-awaited return to the silver screen that Coppola has been working on since 1977, is being sold as a fable. When a New York City-like metropolis is devastated, an idealist architect with the ability to control time hopes to rebuild the city as a utopia, looking to the future. He’s opposed by the mayor of the city, who’s fighting to simply rebuild and continue on. Torn between them is the mayor’s daughter, who’s rejected the life she’s inherited and is trying to find herself among this ever-changing city. Megalopolis hasn’t had its fair share of roadblocks over the decades of development it’s gone through. The film went through multiple casts and even almost started filming in 2001, but was delayed by production date before being outright canceled in 2002. That original cast included Leonardo DiCaprio, Laurence Fishburne, James Gandolfini, Uma Thurman, and Giancarlo Esposito, with him and Fishburne having roles in the movie now.

The massive ensemble cast is led by Adam Driver (Ferrari, the Star Wars franchise), Giancarlo Esposito (Abigail, the upcoming Captain America: Brave New World), Nathalie Emmanuel (Game of Thrones, the Fast and Furious franchise), Aubrey Plaza (Emily the Criminal, the upcoming Agatha All Along), Shia LaBeouf (Honey Boy, Pieces of a Woman), Jon Voight (Midnight Cowboy, Anaconda), Jason Schwartzman (Asteroid City, the upcoming Queer), Talia Shire (Rocky, The Godfather), Grace VanderWaal (Stargirl), Laurence Fishburne (the John Wick franchise, the upcoming Transformers One), Kathryn Hunter (Poor Things, The Tragedy of Macbeth), and Dustin Hoffman (Rain Man, Kung Fu Panda 4).

Lionsgate will release Megalopolis in North America on September 27th, 2024. It’s also rumored to only be playing in IMAX theaters, but we won’t know for sure until tickets go on sale.

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