In an unusual decision, Lionsgate has decided to retract the new trailer for “Megalopolis,” which was released early today. This move follows a controversy regarding critic quotes included in the trailer that were found to be fabricated, as uncovered by various outlets including Vulture.
A spokesperson for Lionsgate stated, “We are immediately recalling our trailer for Megalopolis. We sincerely apologize to the critics involved, as well as to Francis Ford Coppola and American Zoetrope for this inexcusable error in our vetting process. We messed up, and we are truly sorry.”
The excerpts in the trailer criticized Coppola’s renowned works, such as “The Godfather” and “Apocalypse Now,” with quotes attributed to notable critics like Pauline Kael from The New Yorker and Andrew Sarris from the Village Voice. For instance, Kael was quoted as stating that “The Godfather” is “diminished by its artsiness,” while Sarris labeled it a “sloppy self-indulgent movie.”
The intent behind these quotes seemed to be to reflect that even though “Megalopolis” received mixed reactions at its Cannes premiere, it could ultimately become a classic, similar to many of Coppola’s earlier films. While it’s unclear how incorrect critic quotes were included in the trailer, other critics cited included Roger Ebert, Vincent Canby, John Simon, Stanley Kauffmann, and Rex Reed.
This is not the only issue “Megalopolis” has faced in its journey to the big screen. A report by Variety in July highlighted allegations of unprofessional behavior from Coppola, along with a video that seemed to show him kissing extras on set. Shortly after, one of the women seen in the video, Rayna Menz, spoke out against the report, stating, “He did nothing to make me or anyone on set feel uncomfortable. I felt disgusted; I was blindsided by it because it was a closed set. That someone had video of that is just ridiculous and super unprofessional.”
Self-funded by Coppola with a budget exceeding $100 million, “Megalopolis” is characterized as a Roman epic set in an imagined modern America. The narrative follows the conflict between Cesar Catilina (played by Adam Driver), a visionary artist aiming for a utopian future, and his rival, Mayor Franklyn Cicero (Giancarlo Esposito), who is committed to maintaining an outdated and greedy status quo. Caught in this struggle is Julia Cicero (Nathalie Emmanuel), the mayor’s daughter, who must navigate her loyalties between her love for Cesar and her father’s ambitions.
This film marks Coppola’s first directorial effort since 2011’s “Twixt.” The cast also includes Aubrey Plaza, Shia LaBeouf, Jon Voight, Laurence Fishburne, Kathryn Hunter, and Dustin Hoffman, with production by Barry Hirsch, Fred Roos, and Michael Bederman.
“Megalopolis” is scheduled for release in U.S. theaters on September 27.