Adam Driver and Nathalie Emmanuel in ‘Megalopolis.’
American Zoetrope/Mihai Malaimare
After much speculation over its fate, Megalopolis is officially headed to North American movie theaters.
Lionsgate has picked up the Francis Ford Coppola feature, and is planning a September 27, 2024 release, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.
Megalopolis bowed at Cannes last month after a dramatic backstory surrounding its making. After decades in development, Coppola put part of his personal fortune into the $120 million project, which stars Adam Driver as a man obsessed with creating utopian city.
IMAX previously had committed to carrying the project, even before it had a North American distributor.
“Francis is a legend. For many of us, his gifts to cinema were one of the inspirations to devote our own careers to film,” said Lionsgate film boss Adam Fogelson. “It is a true privilege to work with him, and to bring this incredible, audacious, and utterly unique movie to theatrical audiences. At Lionsgate, we strive to be a home for bold and daring artists, and Megalopolis proves there is no one more bold or daring than the maestro, Francis Ford Coppola.”
Added the filmmaker: “One rule of business I’ve always followed and prioritized (to my benefit) is to continue working with companies and teams who over time have proven to be good friends as well as great collaborators. This is why I am thrilled to have Adam Fogelson and Lionsgate Studios release Megalopolis. I am confident they will apply the same tender love and care given to Apocalypse Now, which is currently in its 45th year of astounding revenue and appreciation.”
In announcing the deal, Lionsgate touted its relationship with Coppola’s American Zeotrope banner. The studio previously distributed some of his projects on home entertainment, including Now Final Cut, The Conversation, The Cotton Club Encore, Tucker: The Man and His Dream, and One From the Heart: Reprise.
The acquisition comes more than two months after a March 28 screening for top Hollywood executives in a bid to drum up a possible distribution deal for the feature, though sources in attendance told The Hollywood Reporter at the time it would be challenging to position the film, which though it boasts a big budget, has an arthouse film vibe to it and is not a crowdpleasing blockbuster.
Nathalie Emmanuel, Aubrey Plaza and Giancarlo Esposito are among the cast of the film. At Cannes, it debuted to a 10-minute standing ovation, and currently sports a 51 percent critics rating at Rotten Tomatoes. After the Cannes ovation, Coppola said he hoped the film would inspire hope in the world.
The next morning, he addressed questions of putting his own money into the feature.
“My children, without exception, have wonderful careers without a fortune. We are fine. It doesn’t matter,” said the filmmaker. “The money doesn’t matter. What is important are the friends. A friend will never let you down. The money may evaporate.”
