Legendary director Francis Ford Coppola is preparing the release of his long-awaited project “Megalopolis,” but his casting decisions have divided opinions in Hollywood. The $120 million production tells the story of an architect with ambitious plans to reinvent a futuristic city. Coppola specifically chose actors who have faced controversy or have differing political views.
This approach has reignited debates around separating an entertainer’s personal life from their work. Some stars involved, like Shia LaBeouf and Dustin Hoffman, have faced past allegations of abuse or harassment. Jon Voight is a well-known supporter of conservative causes. However, Coppola believes including a range of views can spark meaningful discussions through the film. “There were people who are arch conservatives and others who are extremely politically progressive. But we were all working on one film together,” he said.
While premiere reactions were mixed, Coppola remains focused on using “Megalopolis” to start a conversation. Adam Driver stars as the lead character Cesar Catilina, alongside A-listers like Giancarlo Esposito and Nathalie Emmanuel. Laurence Fishburne, Aubrey Plaza, and Coppola’s own relatives also have roles. The story follows Catilina’s plans to reinvent the city using a new material called megalon.
Controversy surrounds some cast members like LaBeouf, currently embroiled in a lawsuit over abuse claims, and Hoffman, who faced harassment allegations in the 1980s. Jon Voight is a controversial figure for his conservative political stances. Despite this, Coppola emphasized bringing together people with opposing views to spark discussion through film.
Even Voight’s role as a Caligula-esque figure satirizing Trump has been publicly disputed by the actor. With its expansive vision and involvement of combative stars, “Megalopolis” is poised to prompt widespread conversations when released on September 27th. As Coppola’s most personal project, the film aims to use spectacle and debate to explore the deep divisions in modern society.
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