The highly anticipated premiere of Francis Ford Coppola’s first film in over a decade, “Megalopolis,” at Cannes has been overshadowed by accusations of misconduct on set. According to a report in The Guardian, anonymous sources claimed that Coppola tried to kiss extras during a nightclub scene, pulling women onto his lap and making unwanted advances.
In response, a representative for Coppola cited a statement from executive producer Darren Demetre, denying any knowledge of harassment or inappropriate behavior on set. Demetre explained that Coppola’s actions were meant to establish the atmosphere of a celebratory club scene, with hugs and kisses on the cheek given to cast and background players.
Despite the controversy, Mariela Comitini, a first assistant director on “Megalopolis,” praised Coppola for creating a positive and professional environment on set. She expressed admiration for the director’s dedication to the project, which was completed on time and on budget.
“Megalopolis,” a dystopian film set in a futuristic New York, stars Adam Driver as an architect with the power to stop time. The movie, which also features Giancarlo Esposito, Nathalie Emmanuel, Aubrey Plaza, Jon Voight, and Shia LaBeouf, has been a passion project for Coppola since the 1980s.
Coppola, best known for the “Godfather” trilogy, has faced challenges on previous film sets, most notably during the troubled production of “Apocalypse Now.” Despite the controversy surrounding “Megalopolis,” the film is set to premiere at Cannes, with hopes of securing U.S. distribution in the future.
