One year after Francis Ford Coppola's ambitious sci-fi epic 'Megalopolis' polarized critics and audiences at Cannes, a revealing documentary about its tumultuous production is heading to theaters.
'Megadoc,' directed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Mike Figgis ('Leaving Las Vegas'), offers an unprecedented look behind the curtain of what may be Coppola's final cinematic statement. Utopia has acquired North American rights to the documentary and plans a theatrical release this fall.
The project began serendipitously when Coppola invited his old friend Figgis to the 'Megalopolis' set before principal photography began, granting him permission to document whatever he wished. Armed with a small camera and crew, Figgis captured the entire production process with unrestricted access.
"Francis gave me access to everything, including the amazing archive material he's accumulated of the many readings of the script as it went from one version to another," Figgis said. "The cast were open about the working situation and how they were dealing with the idiosyncrasies of Francis and his very individual working methods."
The documentary promises to explore multiple perspectives on what actually happened during production. "Interestingly, there are many interpretations of what really happened and it's all in the documentary, although the documentary doesn't always say which is what... it is for the viewer to behold and interpret," Coppola noted.
'Megadoc' features conversations with cast members including Adam Driver, Aubrey Plaza, Dustin Hoffman, and Shia LaBeouf, as well as interviews with George Lucas and Coppola's late wife Eleanor, who died in April 2024. The film will also reportedly address controversial moments, including Coppola's decision to fire certain crew members over creative differences.
Robert Schwartzman of Utopia drew parallels to another famous making-of documentary: "Eleanor Coppola's iconic feature documentary, 'Hearts of Darkness,' gave audiences an incredible look at the making of 'Apocalypse Now.' Mike Figgis's 'Megadoc' will be that to 'Megalopolis,' opening up to audiences a behind-the-scenes journey spanning 40 years."
Despite its critical reception and commercial failure (grossing only $14.3 million against its $120 million budget), Coppola remains passionate about 'Megalopolis.' He has refused to release it on streaming platforms or physical media, insisting it be experienced in theaters as intended. The director recently claimed that post-election interest in the film has surged, with sold-out screenings in several cities.