DirectorFrancis Ford Coppolahas finally realized his decades-long dream of bringing his sci-fi epicMegalopolisto the big screen, and the actorGiancarlo Espositocouldn’t be more thrilled. Renowned for his compelling portrayals inBetter Call SaulandThe Boyshimself, Esposito has long admired Coppola’s vision. Now,he reveals that the director’s groundbreaking movie will “change the way (many) filmmakers look at filmmaking.”
Coppola’s passion project has spent nearly 40 years in development hell. He first conceived the idea for the movie in 1977 after drawing inspiration from historian Sallust but struggled for years to get it off the ground. Hereportedly poured close to $120 millionof his own money into the project as it bounced from studio to studio and was ultimately dismissed as too strange or odd or sensitive.
Megalopolis
Megalopolis, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, is a visionary 2024 film exploring the ambitious dream of reconstructing New York City into a utopia, following a devastating disaster. The narrative delves into the clash between the architect’s utopian vision and the political and personal turmoil that ensues. With a star-studded cast, the film examines themes of ambition, power, and the human spirit’s resilience against the backdrop of a futuristic metropolis.
Featuring an all-star ensemble cast including Adam Driver, Giancarlo Esposito, Shia LaBeouf, Jon Voight, Laurence Fishburne,and Aubrey Plaza, Coppola has finally brought his vision to the screen.Megalopolisis poised to redefine cinema, as explained by Esposito in an interview withThe Hollywood Reporter:
“It is just a brilliant and beautiful film… I don’t want to just qualify it as an art film because I think it’s a film that’s progressively different and will change the way [many] filmmakers look at filmmaking. The elements that he put in the film — like the live onstage moment that happens in interaction with the film — is something that is never been done before.”
Giancarlo Esposito Was Reduced To Tears During Megalopolis’ Cannes Premiere
Both Adam Driver and Giancarlo Esposito play pivotal roles inMegalopolis. The former is Cesar Catilina, an idealist architect with the power to stop time, who intends to transform New Rome into a sustainable utopia. But Esposito’s Mayor Franklyn Cicero is corrupt and against the idea. The actor was deeply moved during the world premiere ofMegalopolisat the Cannes Film Festival. Continuing, he revealed:
“I sat a seat away from Francis in Cannes and I had tears in my eyes at the end of the movie, because I feel like the film has a strong message. It says something about how we think and how we live, and it encourages people to open their brains to think progressively about our world. That large of a message, it’s visionary. As an actor, I work so deeply and do so much homework to be prepared, but I have to remember to let it go and play sometimes. I was reminded of that on this film.”
So far,Megalopolishas received an aggregated score of 52% on Rotten Tomatoes andmixed reviews from critics, with some calling it “visionary” and others slamming certain scenes as “plain puzzling.” But Esposito’s excitement also extends beyond reviews and his personal experiences; he feels that the movie’s profound message about human imagination and its power to reshape society will have a great impact on audiences.
Megalopolisis scheduled to be theatrically released in the United States by Lionsgate Films on July 26, 2025.
