Francis Ford Coppola released the first look clip to his upcoming film, Megalopolis. In the Instagram post in which he released the first clip, he dedicated the film to his late wife:
“Megalopolis has always been a film dedicated to my dear wife Eleanor,” he wrote on Instagram. “I really had hoped to celebrate her birthday together this May 4th. But sadly that was not to be, so let me share with everyone a gift on her behalf.”
While the teaser itself is a two-minute clip, it focuses on lead Adam Driver on top of a building, the intrigue is there. In the film Driver stars as an idealistic architect attempting to rebuild New York as an American Utopia. Giancarlo Esposito, Laurence Fishburne, Nathalie Emmanuel, Aubrey Plaza, Shia LaBeouf, Dustin Hoffman, Jon Voigt, and Kathryn Hunter also star in the film.
— Updated from Feb 8 —
Francis Ford Coppola has unveiled a first look at his long-anticipated project, “Megalopolis,” a sci-fi dystopian drama set in a post-apocalyptic New York City. The film stars Adam Driver as the protagonist architect, Caesar, who envisions transforming the devastated city into a utopia but faces opposition from a corrupt mayor.
Coppola, known for iconic works like “The Godfather” trilogy, self-financed a significant portion of the film, bringing to fruition a project that has been on his mind since the 1980s. Production wrapped in March 2023, and though an official release date is pending, Coppola is optimistic about a 2024 debut.
The film draws inspiration from historical events, particularly the conspiracy between Roman senator Lucius Sergius Catilina and orator Marcus Tullius Cicero. In an interview, Coppola shared, “It’s a love story…A woman is divided between loyalties to two men. But not only two men. Each man comes with a philosophical principle.”
The unveiled image offers a glimpse into the film’s atmosphere, featuring a rain-soaked New York City alley with a toppled statue as its centerpiece.
“Megalopolis” also stars Giancarlo Esposito, Nathalie Emmanuel as the Mayor’s daughter, Laurence Fishburne, Jon Voight, Aubrey Plaza, Shia LaBeouf, Chloe Fineman, and Jason Schwartzman. Additional cast members include Bailey Ives, Grace Vanderwaal, and James Remar. The original post from 2022 listed Forest Whitaker as starring in it, but as of now we are unsure.
Director Mike Figgis has crafted a behind-the-scenes documentary, offering insights into the production’s challenges and successes, describing “Megalopolis” as a fusion of “Julius Caesar” and “Blade Runner” set in a futuristic New York, now called New Rome, with a philosophical and political satirical tone.
The release of Figgis’ documentary is expected to coincide with the main film, featuring interviews with industry luminaries such as Martin Scorsese, George Lucas, and Steven Spielberg. While the exact release date remains undisclosed, “Megalopolis” is anticipated to make its mark on the cinematic landscape in 2024.