AUGUST 21, 2023
Main image: Francis Ford Coppola, courtesy of Shutterstock.
“One of the greatest surprises in life is when you realize your elderly,” Francis Ford Coppola says in a new announcement.
“But there’s gentle comfort coming from that, as everyone loves stories and long-ago adventures told by their Grandpa.”
The director of classics from The Godfather films to Apocalypse Now made the observation as he joined social media for the first time, at 84, to share details of his upcoming film Megalopolis.
The film, which has a vast ensemble cast including Adam Driver, Forest Whitaker, Nathalie Emmanuel, Jon Voight, Lawrence Fisburne, Aubrey Plaza, Shia LaBeouf, Jason Schwartzman, Grace VanderWaal, Kathryn Hunter, Talia Shire, Dustin Hoffman, D.B. Sweeney, and Giancarlo Esposito, is the latest obsession of a director with nothing to prove – but plenty of stories left to tell.
In his announcement, Coppola said he was joining social media for the first time because “my hope is to give you a glimpse into my life and journey in making the most interesting film of my career, @Megalopolisfilm.”
The account will hopefully alleviate some of the questions about the film, one of the most ambitious of Coppola’s incredibly illustrious career.
Earlier this year, Coppola and Driver disputed a Hollywood Reporter story that there has been chaos on the set of Megalopolis.
“I’d like to briefly respond to The Hollywood Reporter article published Monday, January 9th,” Adam Driver, one of the stars of the movie, told Deadline. “All good here! Not sure what set you’re talking about! I don’t recognize that one! I’ve been on sets that were chaotic and this one is far from it.”
Coppola also disputed the THR story, telling Deadline that he is still within his budget and on schedule.
“I love my cast, I love what I’m getting each day, I am on schedule and on budget, and that’s what is important to me,” Coppola said.
The film, produced by Coppola and Michael Bederman and written and directed by Coppola, is about a woman (Emmanuel) is divided between the loyalties of her classically minded father (Whitaker), and her future-focused lover (Driver).
Whatever the reason for Coppola’s joining social media, the tributes poured in for one of the greatest filmmakers of all.
Many were effusive.
“Welcome! Your Dracula is one of my favorite movies, and at any given moment in time there’s a chance my mom is watching one of your Godfather movies!” said one fan
“Yes! A living legend and genius filmmaker – gives us all a Mega reason to go back to the movies!” said another.
“You’re a huge inspiration on my screenwriting and drive as a filmmaker,” said another. “I’m sure you hear it all, but you are a legend in every sense, sir.”
Some tributes were simple:
“Welcome Maestro!” said many fans.
“Benvenuto, Francis,” says Princess Bride, Glory, Saw and Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning star Cary Elwes.
“Welcome my friend,” said DC Films head James Gunn, writer and director of the Guardians of the Galaxy films.
And there were a couple of amusing warnings.
“Be careful – social media is a bigger horror show than making Apocalypse Now,” one fan joked.
