While Francis Ford Coppola’s upcoming Megalopolis is set to be the next big deal in science fiction, the multiple reports of on-set issues put the auteur’s new movie in a similar spot as his body of work from the 1970s. Although nothing is confirmed, reports of on-set chaos during Megalopolis‘ production, such as key staff quitting, have contributed to the overall concerns regarding the quality of the filmmaker’s passion project. Coppola financed most of Megalopolis himself, and with him reportedly having to spend even more money to replace those who quit, the upcoming movie has to be a commercial success.
Furthermore, Coppola has tried unsuccessfully for decades to get Megalopolis made, with the idea first being pitched in the 1980s shortly after the release of Apocalypse Now. However, the stress of making the legendary war movie proved to be too great, which contributed to the idea being dropped. After a few more attempts throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Coppola decided to self-fund it himself in 2019. While the reported chaos is concerning, star Adam Driver’s positive Megalopolis comments suggest that the movie might be in better shape than what has been reported.
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Megalopolis’ Filming Controversy Explained
Megalopolis has endured multiple on-set issues since its August 2022 production start date.
Megalopolis was conceived by Coppola while working on Apocalypse Now, but the financial undertaking prevented him from being able to successfully pitch the movie to studios. As such, Coppola made Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Jack, and The Rainmaker to get out of debt and focus on Megalopolis. After clearing his debt, Coppola returned to the idea in the mid-90s with Nicolas Cage and Robert De Niro in mind for roles. By the time Coppola was ready to move forward, the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks effectively halted production, as pre-production was set to happen in New York City around the time.
By 2007, Coppola eventually disregarded the idea entirely before returning to it in 2019 with the commitment to funding the majority of the project out-of-pocket. While none of the rumors surrounding the alleged complicated shoot have been substantiated by anyone who worked on the film, production designer Beth Mickle and supervising Art Director David Scott left halfway through production back in early 2023, which effectively left the upcoming movie without an art department. While hiring replacements, Coppola spent an additional unspecified amount of his own money in a situation that mirrors another Coppola set experience.
The Godfather’s Production Was Just As Chaotic As Megalopolis’ Reported Production
Production on The Godfather was nearly shut down multiple times by Italian Civil Rights groups.
The Godfather‘s pacing, style, and strong acting performances have all contributed to the film going down in cinema history as one of the greatest films ever made, but various on-set problems complicate the now legendary film’s creative history. While Coppola’s direction can’t be denied, he wasn’t Paramount Pictures’ first choice to lead the project. After coming off a string of box-office bombs, Paramount Pictures was in an uncomfortable spot creatively, and Coppola was still a relatively new director. As such, more established names like Elia Kazan and Arthur Penn were strongly considered, but they all declined – leading to Coppola being hired.
Coppola’s unorthodox artistic decisions, such as the dim lighting and insistence on Al Pacino as Michael Corleone, proved problematic early in The Godfather‘s production, as none of the studio executives agreed with the director. Additionally, The Godfather was boycotted multiple times by the Italian-American Civil Rights League and even New York mob boss Joseph Columbo Sr., as they felt the film’s premise portrayed Italians in a negative light while also bringing more attention to the actual Italian mob [via New York Post].
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Another Francis Ford Coppola Movie Faced The Same Problems
Francis Ford Coppola and Martin Sheen faced severe health complications while making Apocalypse Now.
Apocalypse Now‘s commitment to portraying the horrors of war with unflinching authenticity and brutality has made it one of cinema’s shining war movies. However, the long and complicated production of Apocalypse Now is nearly as famous as the movie itself. Budgetary issues, Coppola constantly at odds with studio executives at United Artists, and Coppola nearly quitting the film are a handful of reasons why Apocalypse Now‘s production was so troubled. Additionally, legendary actor Marlon Brando refused to learn his lines and repeatedly showed up on set late, worsening an already volatile issue.
The stress of shooting on location in the Philippines, the expensive and complex sets being destroyed by the severe weather, and multiple personnel being fired almost daily also caused Sheen to suffer a breakdown before nearly dying from a heart attack. Despite the incessant challenges and issues that Coppola and the cast & crew faced, they persevered through the struggles and created one of the most impactful films ever made. Despite the lack of clarity regarding Megalopolis‘ production, the suggestion that there were issues suggests something potentially good for the upcoming movie.
Is Megalopolis’ Reported Chaos Actually A Good Sign For Adam Driver’s Movie?
Whether true or not, Coppola has already demonstrated twice that he can produce great work under pressure.
The Godfather saw Coppola’s authority and judgment as an artist questioned on a near-constant basis, and Apocalypse Now nearly claimed the sanity of the filmmaker and, more importantly, the life of Sheen. However, one could argue that the added pressure partially contributed to Coppola’s ability to go to the necessary place mentally and emotionally to produce the now iconic movies. While it isn’t the healthiest or most productive way to work, Coppola has demonstrated that troubled productions aren’t beyond his capabilities.
While not substantiated by anyone closely involved with the movie, the reports of Megalopolis‘ troubled production facing issues hearken back to his acclaimed work of the 1970s. Furthermore, Driver’s positive comments about Megalopolis also indicate that the movie might be another success under the auteur’s belt. While Megalopolis doesn’t have a confirmed release date yet, and the reports regarding the troubled production could be a valid cause for concern, Coppola’s body of work and the challenges associated with it imply his latest outing could benefit from the years of complications associated with its creation.
Sources: New York Post
The Godfather
Francis Ford Coppola directed this 1978 classic that would go on to become one of the most iconic crime films ever made. Starring Marlon Brando, James Caan, and Al Pacino, The Godfather gives a tense and introspective look into the Corleone crime family of New York City.
- Director
- Francis Ford Coppola
- Release Date
- March 24, 1972
- Cast
- Marlon Brando , Diane Keaton , James Caan , Al Pacino , Robert Duvall
- Runtime
- 175 minutes
