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One of 2024’s most anticipated filmsis the sci-fi epicMegalopolisby Francis Ford Coppola. It’s the acclaimed filmmaker’s first directorial work since 2011’sTwixt, making this the longest gap between his movies. But that’s not the only reason this film is so highly anticipated.Megalopolishas been a longtime passion project of Coppola’s – a very,verylong time.
After beingstuck in developmental hellfor decades,Megalopolisfinally 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 isMegalopolisexactly? And why did it take Coppola so long to make? Let’s go back in time, almost 50 years, and look at the timeline ofMegalopolis,from its conception to its upcoming premiere.
What Is Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis?
Megalopolis
While filming another longtime passion project of his,Apocalypse Now,Francis Ford Coppola first conceived the idea forMegalopolisin 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 theancient Roman Empirein 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 filmMetropolisand William Cameron Menzies’s 1936 filmThings 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 onApocalypse 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 onMegalopolisuntil 1983. Within two months, he had a whopping 400 pages of notes and script fragments for the screenplay. However, other directorial projects sidelinedMegalopolisuntil 1991, after the release ofThe Godfather: Part III.Coppola’s production company, American Zoetrope, announced several upcoming projects, including the long-awaitedMegalopolis.
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 totake on other directorial projects, likeBram Stoker’s DraculaandJackwith Robin Williams, to get himself out of debt and fundMegalopolis,which once again postponed the film.
It wasn’t until around 2001 that Coppola finally pickedMegalopolisback 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 withMegalopolis.
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The director still worked onMegalopolishere 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,Megalopoliswas 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 makeMegalopolis,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 bookFrancis Ford Coppola: A Filmmaker’s Life. Megalopoliswas “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 produceMegalopolis –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 onThe Godfather,had agreed to appear in the film but died before production took place.
Coppola didn’t shootMegalopolisin Italy as he originally wanted. He instead settled for Atlanta and lots of visual effects. However, although filming hadfinallycommenced,Megalopolisstill 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 hadblown past its budget, though Coppola later denied these claims.
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After nearly 50 years of setbacks, Coppola finally completedMegalopolisin 2023. But the obstacles of this filmstillaren’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.Megalopolisis set to premiere at the 77th Cannes Film Festival on June 20, 2025, which will tell us just how good this movie really is.
Apocalypse Now
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 ofApocalypse 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 – willMegalopolislive 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 directedThe 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,Megalopoliswill 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.Megalopolisdoes not have an official wide release date.
