Lionsgate recalls Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis trailer amid critics’ quotes fabrication scandal: “We screwed up”

August 22, 20242 Mins Read

Lionsgate has taken the step of recalling its latest trailer for Francis Ford Coppola’s highly anticipated film, Megalopolis, following the discovery of fabricated quotes from film critics. The trailer, which was released on Wednesday night, aimed to position the film as a masterpiece that would stand the test of time, similar to Coppola’s previous classics like The Godfather and Apocalypse Now.

Lionsgate recalls Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis trailer amid critics’ quotes fabrication scandal “We screwed up”

Lionsgate recalls Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis trailer amid critics’ quotes fabrication scandal: “We screwed up”

According to Variety, the trailer’s credibility was severely undermined by the inclusion of several quotes attributed to critics. These quotes, which praised Coppola’s work and suggested that “Megalopolis” would be a groundbreaking achievement, were entirely fabricated.

“Lionsgate is immediately recalling our trailer for ‘Megalopolis,’” a Lionsgate spokesperson said in a statement provided to Variety. “We offer our sincere apologies to the critics involved and to Francis Ford Coppola and American Zoetrope for this inexcusable error in our vetting process. We screwed up. We are sorry.”

The trailer’s snafu is the latest in a series of controversies surrounding the $120 million production, which Coppola financed entirely himself. Last month, the publication revealed allegations of inappropriate behaviour by Coppola on set, including attempts to kiss young female extras.

Megalopolis centers around a charismatic leader named Caesar (Driver), overlooking the ruins of a once-great city. This image sets the stage for the film’s broader themes: a society teetering on collapse, crippled by greed and political turmoil. Yet, amidst the decay, there are dreamers like Caesar who yearn for a better future.

Megalopolis also stars Aubrey Plaza, Talia Shire, Jon Voight, Grace VanderWaal, Laurence Fishburne, Kathryn Hunter, Dustin Hoffman, Fineman, Madeleine Gardella, Balthazar Getty, Bailey Ives, Isabelle Kusman, James Remar and D. B. Sweeney.

Megalopolis is scheduled to hit U.S. theaters on September 27.