June 22nd 2024.
Adam Driver, known for his roles in popular films, has been cast as one of the leads in the highly anticipated movie, Megalopolis. The film, with a budget of $120 million, has been in the works for months, with the director Francis Ford Coppola searching for a studio to back the project. Finally, on June 17, Lionsgate announced their acquisition of the film.
Some may view this as a positive sign for the film, which has been dubbed as the "worst film of 2024." However, it seems that a setback has occurred as Coppola, who is now 85 years old, will be funding the marketing campaign for the film out of his own pocket. A recent report has revealed that despite Lionsgate's worth of $1.9 billion, they will not be contributing to the estimated $15 to $20 million marketing budget. Instead, it will be Coppola himself who will be covering the expenses, bringing the total cost of the film to over $135 million.
There are several reasons why Lionsgate's deal with Coppola does not include the marketing budget. One possible reason could be that the renowned director will retain ownership of his work, despite the studio distributing the film. Megalopolis has received criticism for its complexity and may prove to be a challenge to market to the general audience. Starring big names such as Adam Driver, Aubrey Plaza, and Shia LeBeouf, the film is described as an epic science fiction drama set in a futuristic America and follows the conflict between two men about the future of New York City.
After a screening of the film to potential buyers in March, concerns were raised about its financial potential. One viewer even commented that the film was "bats**t" and that anyone who invests in its promotion would lose money, stating that this is not how Coppola should end his directing career. However, the film did receive a seven-minute standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival last month, despite being called "the craziest thing I've ever seen."
While it is still unclear how Coppola plans to market the film, he seems pleased with his partnership with Lionsgate and has stated that he values long-term collaborations with companies and teams that have proven to be good friends and great collaborators. He hopes that Lionsgate will treat Megalopolis with the same care and success as they did with his previous film, Apocalypse Now, which continues to generate revenue and appreciation even after 45 years.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, money may be the least of Coppola's concerns as he has expressed that his main goal is for the film and its message to live on after him. The director has continued to promote the film, which tells the story of an obsessive man's quest to create a better world, in hopes that it will leave a lasting impact. As of now, there has been no official statement from Coppola's representatives.
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