‘Megalopolis’ Official Trailer Unveils Francis Ford Coppola’s ‘Best Work Ever’

The legendary auteur Francis Ford Coppola’s latest big-budget project, “Megalopolis,” is set to release, and its recently released teaser gives a vivid glimpse into what can be expected in the film. A quote attributed to Coppola is attached to the official trailer for his new epic film, reads: “Our new film ‘Megalopolis’ is the best work I’ve ever had the privilege to preside over.”

Coppola’s confidence in his statement reflects his dedication to this work, which he began in the 1980s. As the anticipation for the film escalates, it’s intriguing to note that it will premiere in competition on Thursday at the Cannes Film Festival.

What do we know about the film?

Ever since Francis Ford Coppola’s upcoming film “Megalopolis” was announced, details regarding the project kept surfacing on the internet. For the unversed, the iconic filmmaker, whose notable directorial credits include movies like “The Godfather” and “Apocalypse Now,” invested $120 million of his own money into the film, having sold a significant piece of his wine empire. The film is Coppola’s first directorial effort since “Twixt” (2011), marking his longest gap between films.

Obviously, the audiences are now excited about the outcome of his decades-long toil put into the project. The trailer starts with a voice-over musing about 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 cutting to a Roman chariot race, a metropolitan skyscape, and scenes of protest.

According to the official synopsis,

“‘Megalopolis’ is a Roman Epic fable set in an imagined Modern America. The City of New Rome must change, causing conflict between Cesar Catilina (Adam Driver), a genius artist who seeks to leap into a utopian, idealistic future, and his opposition, Mayor Franklyn Cicero (Giancarlo Esposito), who remains committed to a regressive status quo, perpetuating greed, special interests, and partisan warfare. Torn between them is socialite Julia Cicero (Nathalie Emmanuel), the mayor’s daughter, whose love for Cesar has divided her loyalties, forcing her to discover what she truly believes humanity deserves.”

Coppola wrote, directed, and produced the film, which features an ensemble cast that includes Adam Driver, Giancarlo Esposito, Nathalie Emmanuel, Aubrey Plaza, Shia LaBeouf, Jon Voight, Jason Schwartzman, Talia Shire, Grace VanderWaal, Laurence Fishburne, Kathryn Hunter, and Dustin Hoffman.

The film was selected to compete for the Palme d’Or at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, where it will premiere on May 16, 2024.

‘Megalopolis’ Official Trailer: