Megalopolis: Did Francis Ford Coppola Forcibly Kiss Female Extras During Shoot? Film's Executive Producer Comes in Defence of Director Over the Allegations!

On the day the makers of Megalopolis released its stunning teaser, The Guardian published a scathing behind-the-scenes piece on its director, Francis Ford Coppola, and the making of the film, based on eyewitness accounts and some unnamed sources. Coppola, returning to film direction after a 13-year hiatus, sees Megalopolis as his dream project and is self-financing the movie, which has encountered distribution issues for its release in the USA. Megalopolis Teaser Trailer: Francis Ford Coppola and Adam Driver Deliver Dynamic Portrayal of Utopian Society in This Sci-Fi Drama.

Among the various troubling stories reported in the article—such as on-set chaos and tense interactions with actors—two alleged revelations stood out. One detailed how Coppola would smoke marijuana in his trailer for hours, leaving his cast and crew waiting for him to commence shooting. The other, which places the director under the #MeToo spotlight, claims that during the filming of a nightclub scene, witnesses reported that Coppola entered the set and attempted to kiss some of the topless and scantily clad female extras, claiming he was "trying to get them in the mood." He also allegedly pulled women to sit on his lap.

While these are grave accusations, Darren Demetre, who serves as an executive co-producer for Megalopolis, came in defence of Coppola. Dismissing these allegations, he was quoted as saying, "I have known and worked with Francis and his family for over 35 years. As one of the first assistant directors and an executive producer on his new epic, Megalopolis, I helped oversee and advise the production and ran the second unit. Francis successfully produced and directed an enormous independent film, making all the difficult decisions to ensure it was delivered on time and on budget, while remaining true to his creative vision. (sic)"

Watch the Teaser of Megalopolis:

Speaking particularly of the alleged sexual harassment incident, he added, "There were two days when we shot a celebratory Studio 54-esque club scene where Francis walked around the set to establish the spirit of the scene by giving kind hugs and kisses on the cheek to the cast and background players. It was his way to help inspire and establish the club atmosphere, which was so important to the film. I was never aware of any complaints of harassment or ill behaviour during the course of the project." Francis Ford Coppola Calls Barbie and Oppenheimer Phenomena ‘Victory for Cinema’, Says ‘We’re on the Verge of Golden Age’.

Francis Ford Coppola is renowned among cinephiles for masterpieces such as The Conversation, The Godfather trilogy, Apocalypse Now, The Outsiders, and Bram Stoker's Dracula. However, since 1996's The Rainmaker, the director has struggled to deliver a successful film, with movies like Youth Without Youth, Tetro, and Twixt failing to win over critics or perform well at the box office. Megalopolis, a futuristic sci-fi thriller, has been his dream project for 40 years. The film will premiere at the 77th Cannes Film Festival on May 16, 2024. Its theatrical release, however, remains undetermined.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 15, 2024 09:55 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).