Four decades after Francis Ford Coppola began thinking about his sci-fi epic “Megalopolis,” cinephiles are closer than ever to seeing the finished product on the big screen. After years of studio rejections, Coppola opted to self-finance a large portion of the $100 million movie, which filmed in Atlanta in 2022 and 2023 with a cast that includes Adam Driver, Aubrey Plaza, Nathalie Emmanuel, Forest Whitaker, Laurence Fishburne, Shia LaBeouf, Jason Schwartzman, and Dustin Hoffman.
While few specifics are known about the film‘s plot, it is believed to take place in a futuristic city modeled after the Roman Empire and follow an architect named Caesar (Driver) who struggles to balance his idealism with the pragmatic demands of his peers. “Megalopolis” is certain to be one of the most anticipated premieres at whatever film festival ends up landing it, but any film lovers hoping for more concrete details might have to wait until they see it for themselves.
In a new interview with The Face, Driver shared his thoughts about working with Coppola on the project and explained why it’s not a film that’s easily categorized.
“It’s kind of undefinable, which feels very general until you watch the movie,” Driver said when asked to describe the film. “Then my answer will be perfect. There’s not a lot of precedent for it and it’s wild on a big scale, which is what’s really unique about it.”
Driver did share some information about the character of Caesar, suggesting that the “Megalopolis” protagonist’s philosophy and struggles are similar to Coppola’s.
“He’s a visionary,” Driver said of his character. “He’s very much Francis [Ford Coppola], in a way, where he’s investigated every way of how people can do something and is trying not to get stuck on the right answer. That’s an idea that’s moving to me – and one that reflects Francis.”
No release date for “Megalopolis” has been announced, but Coppola has teased that the film will hit theaters in late 2024.
