Since the announcement of Francis Ford Coppola's daring decision to finance his dream project, "Megalopolis," with his own funds, speculation has been swirling around which studio would dare to take on the distribution mantle. And when the film made its controversial debut at Cannes, receiving a mixed bag of reviews, the question of distribution only intensified. But now, the mystery has been solved—Lionsgate has stepped up to the plate, willing to take a gamble on Coppola's vision.
In a recent announcement, Lionsgate revealed that it has partnered with the legendary filmmaker to bring "Megalopolis" to the big screen, including IMAX theaters. Given their long history of collaborating with Coppola on various releases, it's not surprising that Lionsgate saw an opportunity here. After all, with a rumored budget hovering around $125 million and polarizing reviews, it seemed unlikely that a major studio like Universal or Warner Bros. would take the plunge.
But Lionsgate is ready to take the risk, and millions of moviegoers will soon have the chance to see "Megalopolis" in all its glory. This is exactly what Coppola has been hoping for, and he expressed his excitement in a statement. "One business rule I've always followed, to my benefit, is to continue working with companies and teams who have proven to be both good friends and great collaborators over time," he said. "That's why I'm thrilled to have Adam Fogelson and Lionsgate Studios release 'Megalopolis.' I'm confident they will treat it with the same tender love and care they lavished on 'Apocalypse Now,' which continues to rake in revenue and accolades 45 years later."
The film boasts an ensemble cast that reads like a who's who of Hollywood, including Adam Driver, Giancarlo Esposito, Nathalie Emmanuel, Aubrey Plaza, Shia LaBeouf, Jon Voight, Laurence Fishburne, Talia Shire, Jason Schwartzman, Kathryn Hunter, Grace VanderWaal, Chloe Fineman, James Remar, D.B. Sweeney, and Dustin Hoffman. With such a star-studded cast and Lionsgate's backing, "Megalopolis" is sure to be a must-see movie event.
