**Megalopolis: The Turbulent Creation of Francis Ford Coppola’s Ambitious Epic**
Last September, legendary director Francis Ford Coppola released “Megalopolis,” a film decades in the making and unlike anything audiences had seen from him before. Despite its grand scale and star-studded cast, the dystopian epic left both critics and viewers perplexed, ultimately earning Coppola the dubious distinction of a Razzie Award for worst director. Now, with the release of “Megadoc,” a new documentary directed by British filmmaker Mike Figgis, audiences are getting an unprecedented behind-the-scenes look at the chaotic and passionate journey that brought “Megalopolis” to the screen. Through candid footage and interviews, “Megadoc” explores the creative process, set tensions, and personal stakes behind one of the most divisive films of recent years.
**A Vision Decades in the Making**
Francis Ford Coppola is a name synonymous with cinematic masterpieces, having directed classics like “The Godfather” and “Apocalypse Now.” Yet “Megalopolis” represents perhaps his most personal and ambitious project. The idea first took root in Coppola’s mind in 1977, inspired by his fascination with ancient Rome and his desire to explore themes of societal rebirth and decay through the lens of a futuristic metropolis. Over the years, he struggled to secure financing for the project, as its sprawling narrative and unconventional vision made studios wary. Refusing to give up, Coppola eventually decided to put his own fortune—accrued largely from the family’s successful wine business—on the line, funding the film’s more than $120 million budget himself.
Set in a city that blends the grandeur of ancient Rome with a dystopian future, “Megalopolis” tells the story of Cesar Catilina, an ambitious architect played by Adam Driver, who dreams of rebuilding the city after a catastrophe. Aubrey Plaza stars as a relentless journalist, while Shia LaBeouf plays Driver’s corrupt cousin. The supporting cast includes acting heavyweights such as Dustin Hoffman, Laurence Fishburne, Jon Voight, and Giancarlo Esposito, who each inhabit roles reflecting the film’s complex political and social dynamics.
**A Rocky Reception**
Given its pedigree and the scale of its ambition, expectations for “Megalopolis” ran high. However, when the film premiered, it quickly became apparent that Coppola’s vision was not for everyone. Critics described the film with words like “madness” and “divisive,” noting its dense plot, eccentric style, and lack of conventional narrative structure. Audiences, too, were left bewildered; the film grossed just $14 million in the United States, a fraction of its mammoth budget.
Such a reception was a bitter pill for Coppola, whose willingness to risk his own money underscored how much the project meant to him. Yet, as “Megadoc” reveals, the tumultuous making of “Megalopolis” was as dramatic and unpredictable as the film itself.
**“Megadoc”: A Lens Into Chaos and Creativity**
Enter Mike Figgis, best known for directing “Leaving Las Vegas.” Figgis has long admired Coppola and, upon hearing that “Megalopolis” was finally moving forward, reached out to offer his services as a documentary filmmaker. The two had met nearly thirty years earlier at the Oscars, and maintained a collegial relationship. Figgis saw in “Megalopolis” not just a film, but a story about the creative process, artistic obsession, and the high-wire act of filmmaking at the highest level.
Arriving on set in Atlanta in late 2022 as rehearsals began, Figgis set about documenting everything he could. His camera captured both the grand aspirations of Coppola’s vision and the day-to-day challenges of executing it. The documentary does not shy away from the chaos, showing the heated arguments, creative disagreements, and moments of exhaustion that defined the production.
One of the most compelling aspects of “Megadoc” is its focus on the human dynamics behind the film. While Adam Driver, the film’s star, declined to be filmed while working, Figgis was able to focus on other key cast members, notably Shia LaBeouf, Aubrey Plaza, and Jon Voight. LaBeouf, in particular, emerges as a lightning rod on set: deeply respectful of Coppola, yet prone to pushing the director’s buttons