Francis Ford Coppola’s epic gamble ‘Megalopolis’ lands distribution from Lionsgate

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As a long-time film enthusiast and someone who has followed Francis Ford Coppola’s illustrious career with great admiration, I am thrilled to hear that Lionsgate has acquired the rights to distribute his latest magnum opus, “Megalopolis.” This news brings back memories of my first encounter with Coppola’s cinematic genius through his iconic Godfather trilogy.

On Monday, Lionsgate announced they acquired the rights to distribute Francis Ford Coppola’s anticipated movie “Megalopolis” in the U.S. and Canada. This decision put an end to the long-standing question about which studio would handle Coppola’s ambitious project. The film is set for release in domestic theaters, including Imax screens, on September 27.

Megalopolis marks the latest film project from five-time Oscar winner Francis Ford Coppola since his 2011 release “Twixt.” Coppola is said to have personally invested approximately $120 million into the production. This substantial investment came from the proceeds of selling a portion of his wine business.

Featuring an impressive ensemble of actors such as Adam Driver, Aubrey Plaza, Giancarlo Esposito, Nathalie Emmanuel, Talia Shire, Jason Schwartzman, Chloe Fineman, Jon Voight, Shia LaBeouf, and Laurence Fishburne, this film tells a grand tale of power battles in a New York City-inspired setting, meticulously crafted to resemble ancient Rome instead.

Director Francis Ford Coppola gives a press conference for his film “Megalopolis” during the 77th Cannes Film Festival on May 17.
(Zoulerah Norddine / AFP via Getty Images)

Last month at the Cannes film festival, Megalopolis had its premiere. In response, Joshua Rothkopf of The Times stated that if this turns out to be Francis Ford Coppola’s final work at age 85, it would not be a gentle swan song, but rather a complex, dynamic, and intense exploration of the origins of fascism – a perspective that only a harsh critic might label as a failure.

“It may be the most radical film he’s ever done,” Rothkopf wrote.

As a movie enthusiast, I’ve had the pleasure of witnessing Lionsgate’s close collaboration with Coppola and his American Zoetrope label for years. They’ve brought some of his masterpieces into my home entertainment collection, including “Apocalypse Now Final Cut,” “The Conversation,” “The Cotton Club Encore,” “Tucker: The Man and His Dream,” and the special edition of “One From the Heart: Reprise.”

During the press conference at Cannes for “Megalopolis,” Coppola described the movie’s distinctive style as, “I could tell this film wasn’t like others. It felt right to me, and since I was financing it, I believed I had the freedom to make it according to my vision.”

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2024-07-18 22:13