“Our new film ‘Megalopolis’ is the best production I have ever had the honor of directing,” reads a quote attributed to acclaimed director Francis Ford Coppola attached to the official trailer for his new epic film.
The film, which will premiere in competition on Thursday at the Cannes Film Festival, has been a project for the director for many years. Work on the script first began in the 1980s.
The legendary director behind The Godfather and Apocalypse Now invested $120 million of his own money in the film.
The trailer begins with a voiceover contemplating the decline of empires – “When does an empire die? Does it collapse in one terrible moment? No, no. But there comes a time when people no longer believe in it” – before moving on to Roman chariot racing, urban skyscapes and scenes of protest.
According to the official synopsis, “Megalopolis” is an epic Roman tale set in an imagined modern America. The new city of Rome must change, causing a conflict between Cesare Catiline (Adam Driver), a genius artist seeking to leap into a utopian future, and his opponent, Mayor Franklin Cicero (Giancarlo Esposito), who remains committed to a reactionary future. The status quo, the perpetuation of greed, special interests, and partisan warfare. Torn between them is Julia Cicero (Nathalie Emmanuel), the mayor’s daughter, whose love for Cesare divides her loyalties, forcing her to discover what she truly believes humanity deserves.
Megalopolis features an all-star cast, with Driver leading the group alongside Adam Driver, Giancarlo Esposito, Nathalie Emmanuel, Aubrey Plaza, Shia LaBeouf, Jon Voight, Laurence Fishburne, Talia Shire, Jason Schwartzman, Katherine Hunter, Grace VanderWaal, and Chloe. Feynman, James Remar, D. B. Sweeney, and Dustin Hoffman.
Coppola wrote and directed the film, with Fred Ross, Barry Hirsch, and Michael Biederman producing. Executive producers are: Anahid Nazarian, Barry Osborne, Darren Demeter.
Watch the trailer here.
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