Francis Ford Coppola to bring his sci-fi epic Megalopolis to the New York Film Festival for a preview screening on September 23.
The special event screening at New York's AMC Lincoln Square Theater will be preceded by Imax's livestream broadcast of a Q&A with Coppola at 66 big-screen theaters across the United States. Lionsgate and Imax's sneak preview screening of Coppola's expensive passion project comes ahead of Megalopolis released in theaters on September 27, after previews at the Cannes and Toronto film festivals.
“Working with the legendary Francis Ford Coppola has been an absolute privilege, and we are proud to have his groundbreaking film at the 62nd New York Film Festival,” said Adam Fogelson, chairman of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, in a statement.
The marketing of Megalopolis It wasn't without its share of drama, as the sci-fi drama's initial trailer was pulled by Lionsgate on August 21, after just one day, when it was revealed that critics' claims cited in the teaser were false. Megalopolis released a new trailer (below) on Thursday alongside Imax's announcement. The new preview contains no critic quotes.
After decades in development, Coppola invested part of his personal fortune in the $120 million project, which stars Adam Driver as a man obsessed with creating a utopian city. Nathalie Emmanuel, Aubrey Plaza and Giancarlo Esposito also star.
For Imax, the scope and ambition of Megalopolis will be a hit on the big screen, as the epic film features Madison Square Garden transformed into a Colosseum with gladiator fights and chariot races.
Lionsgate, a studio with longstanding ties to Coppola and his American Zeotrope label, has previously distributed several of his projects into home entertainment, including Apocalypse Now – Final version, The conversation, The cotton Still Club, Tucker: The Man and His Dream AND One from the heart: Take up again.
NYFF Artistic Director Dennis Lim will lead the pre-screening conversation with Coppola.