megalopolis teaser trailer

“Is this society, is this way we’re living, the only one that’s available to us” – Cesar (Adam Driver) in Megalopolis

Ahead of its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, Francis Ford Coppola has released a teaser trailer for “Megalopolis,” dedicated to his late wife.

In the first trailer, we saw Adam Driver’s character, Cesar, dealing with a dramatic moment on a skyscraper. Now, we get a glimpse of the movie’s action: a city full of neon lights and dark themes.

Coppola’s new movie is a mix of Roman and modern American settings. It’s about a city called New Rome facing big changes. Cesar, played by Driver, wants a better future, while Mayor Franklyn Cicero, played by Giancarlo Esposito, wants things to stay the same. This creates a clash, with Nathalie Emmanuel’s character, Julia Cicero, caught in the middle, torn between love and beliefs about what’s right for society.

 

The ensemble cast includes Laurence Fishburne, Aubrey Plaza, Shia LaBeouf, Jon Voight, Talia Shire, Jason Schwartzman, Kathryn Hunter, Grace VanderWaal, Chloe Fineman, James Remar, D.B. Sweeney, and Dustin Hoffman.

“Megalopolis” delves into themes of societal change and philosophical ideals. It’s a passion project for Coppola, who self-financed a significant part of the film. Fred Roos, Barry Hirsch, and Michael Bederman serve as producers, with Anahid Nazarian, Barrie Osborne, and Darren Demetre as executive producers.

The film draws inspiration from historical events, particularly the conflict between Roman figures Lucius Sergius Catilina and Marcus Tullius Cicero. A behind-the-scenes documentary by director Mike Figgis offers insights into the production’s challenges and successes, featuring interviews with industry luminaries such as Martin Scorsese, George Lucas, and Steven Spielberg.

Distribution deals have been secured with Constantin Film for Germany and German-speaking territories, Eagle Pictures for Italy, Tripictures for Spain, and Entertainment Film Distributors Limited for the UK, with Le Pacte handling distribution in France. The exact release date is pending, but “Megalopolis” is set to debut at Cannes, marking Coppola’s return to the director’s chair with a compelling exploration of ambition, love, and societal ideals in a modern epic setting.