Despite having starred in several blockbuster movies over his career, Adam Driver has yet to appear in a superhero film, but that might all be about to change with his upcoming release, Megalopolis. Driver is most famous for his role as Kylo Ren in the Star Wars sequel trilogy and now, the star is set to appear in a new Francis Ford Coppola movie that could revolutionize sci-fi. However, the film might prove to be better suited to the superhero genre instead.

Throughout his career, the actor has gained a name for himself as one of Hollywood’s brightest stars, with almost every Adam Driver movie proving to be a hit with critics. Driver has had the luxury of appearing in lower-budget indie movies, award-winning features, and mainstream box office hits. As it stands, though, the star has yet to star in a superhero movie. A new look at his upcoming film indicates that Driver’s first superhero role might be just around the corner.

Megalopolis Is The Closest Adam Driver Has Come To Starring In A Superhero Movie

He Appears To Have Special Powers

Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis is a passion project of the director’s that has been in development for 41 years. Scheduled to premiere at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, the movie will see Adam Driver playing Cesar Catilina, an architect with a unique vision for a New York-like city following its accidental destruction. Megalopolis also stars Giancarlo Esposito as Catilina’s rival, as well as Nathalie Emmanuel, Aubrey Plaza, and Jon Voight in supporting roles. Though Megalopolis has been billed as a science fiction epic influenced by Roman history, a clip of the film makes it look more like a superhero movie.

The first trailer for Megalopolis was released online recently and gave audiences a first glimpse at Ford Coppola’s upcoming movie. In the clip, Driver’s Catilina, can be seen standing on the roof of an Art Deco skyscraper at sunset. He cautiously approaches the edge of the building, and as he is about to step off, he shouts the words, “Time, stop!”. Immediately, the cars on the street below him freeze, as do the clouds in the sky. Driver’s character appears to be the only one not frozen in time, but he himself seems surprised by his abilities.

The power Catalina displays in the trailer is highly reminiscent of something that might be found in the pages of a comic book. Indeed, the clip may have come as a surprise to cinephiles who weren’t expecting Megalopolis to be quite so superhero-coded. While it’s not yet known how large a role these powers will play in the film’s narrative or in what ways Driver’s character will use them, they certainly make Megalopolis a more intriguing prospect.

Adam Driver’s Superpowers In Megalopolis Are Reminiscent Of His Most Famous Movie Role

The Force Certainly Comes To Mind

Upon viewing the trailer for Megalopolis, comparisons with Driver’s most famous film character are almost inescapable. During his time as Kylo Ren in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, Driver had the opportunity to showcase a number of the character’s powers. Like all members of the dark side and Sith Lords in Star Wars, Kylo Ren has the ability to wield the Force. This means that he can move and control objects with his mind. In fact, Kylo is shown to be one of the best at this, even managing to stop a shot from a blaster in mid-air.

Kylo’s telekinetic abilities are similar to Catilina’s powers in the Megalopolis trailer. However, rather than simply controlling moving objects, Catalina displays the skill to command time itself. Nevertheless, both characters are capable of altering the world around them simply with the power of thought, which is not only a neat coincidence but something that will surely appeal to fans of Driver.

Megalopolis’ First Clip Proves How Tough The Movie Will Be To Market

The Film Has Already Had Its Fair Share Of Difficulties

By now, Megalopolis‘ release problems have been well-documented. The movie, which was financed by Coppola himself, has struggled to secure a distributor. The first clip of Megalopolis highlights why it will be hard to market. Essentially, Megalopolis is a $120 million original movie based on a very niche premise. What’s more, it’s not a clear genre, which most risk-averse studies shy away from. On the one hand, it’s been described as a science fiction epic based on Roman history, but on the other hand, it looks more like an avant-garde superhero movie.

The film’s grand scope and lack of a definable genre means Megalopolis is almost the exact antithesis of what studios look for in the current cinematic landscape. It is possible, however, that the superhero-style flourishes seen in the movie’s first trailer might work in Megalopolis‘s favor. After all, despite not being as popular as they once were, superhero movies still tend to make a lot of money. If it leans more into its superpower aspects, even if said aspects only account for a small chunk of the film, Megalopolis could just be profitable.