Francis Ford Coppola’s ‘Megalopolis’ To Be Released By Lionsgate In U.S.
Lionsgate will be releasing Francis Ford Coppola’s $120M epic production Megalopolis stateside on Sept. 27 following its premiere at Cannes last month. This will be a wide release.
Deadline hears this is a distribution deal for Lionsgate. Coppola will own the movie, which is the case for many of his films under his American Zoetrope banner.
More from Deadline
Michael Cieply: The New Hollywood-Elites, The Audience And A Wall Of Indifference
Cannes Film Festival 2024: Read All Of Deadline's Movie Reviews, Including Palme d'Or Winner 'Anora'
Lionsgate already has a theatrical release on that date, the Halle Berry horror movie Never Let Go. Universal has the DreamWorks Animation title The Wild Robot and Paramount the tenth anniversary re-release of the Christopher Nolan Warner Bros co-production Interstellar.
Coppola, as Deadline previously told you, already secured Imax theaters for the all-star ensemble which stars Adam Driver, Nathalie Emmanuel, Aubrey Plaza, Giancarlo Esposito, Jon Voight, Shia LaBeouf, and more.
The studio is already in business with Coppola’s American Zoetrope banner have released the Oscar winning filmmaker’s previous director’s cuts, i.e. Apocalypse Now Final Cut, The Conversation, The Cotton Club Encore, Tucker: The Man and His Dream, and One From the Heart: Reprise. Lionsgate Studios will also handle the distribution of Megalopolis across all home entertainment platforms.
There’s a live-bit during the movie which involves an actual actor stepping in front of the screen. This occurred at Cannes, and the notion was that it would be implemented for Imax screens. I understand that Lionsgate wants to fulfill Coppola’s vision when it comes to the fourth wall facet.
Megalopolis received a 7 minute standing ovation out of its Cannes premiere, preceded by a three-minute-plus standing ovation for Coppola before the film hit the screen at the Grand Theatre Lumiere. Megalopolis stands at 52% with critics on Rotten Tomatoes.
Already secured per Deadline for Megalopolis were a slew of offshore territories, i.e. in the UK (Entertainment Film Distributors Limited), France (Le Pacte), Germany, Austria, and Switzerland (Constantin Film), Italy (Eagle Pictures), Spain (Tripictures), Australia (Madman Entertainment), Benelux (September Films), Bulgaria (Profilm), the Czech Republic and Slovakia (Film Europe), Ex-Yugoslavia (MCF Megacom Film), Greece (Feelgood Entertainment), Hungary (Mozinet), Israel (Lev Cinemas), Morocco (Facility Event), Portugal (Midas Filmes), Romania (Independenta Film), Scandinavia (Njutafilms), and Turkey (Bir Film). Recently added territories are the Middle East (Cinewaves), Poland (Gutek), Ukraine and Baltics (Ad Astra), Tunisia (Retinia), Indonesia (Prima Cinema), and the Philippines (Pioneer). Goodfellas is in advanced negotiations for Latin America and Brazil, and in negotiations with the rest of Asia.
Coppola’s producer and longtime lawyer, Barry Hirsch of Hirsch Wallerstein Hayum Matlof + Fishman, oversaw the deal on behalf of American Zoetrope. Lauren Bixby and Christopher Davis oversaw the deal for Lionsgate.
Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Chair Adam Fogelson said, “Francis is a legend. For many of us, his gifts to cinema were one of the inspirations to devote our own careers to film. It is a true privilege to work with him, and to bring this incredible, audacious, and utterly unique movie to theatrical audiences. At Lionsgate, we strive to be a home for bold and daring artists, and Megalopolis proves there is no one more bold or daring than the maestro, Francis Ford Coppola.”
Coppola added, “One rule of business I’ve always followed and prioritized (to my benefit) is to continue working with companies and teams who over time have proven to be good friends as well as great collaborators. This is why I am thrilled to have Adam Fogelson and Lionsgate Studios release Megalopolis. I am confident they will apply the same tender love and care given to Apocalypse Now, which is currently in its 45th year of astounding revenue and appreciation.”
Megalopolis also stars Laurence Fishburne, Talia Shire, Jason Schwartzman, Kathryn Hunter, Grace VanderWaal, Chloe Fineman, James Remar, D.B. Sweeney, and Dustin Hoffman.
Coppola’s producer and longtime lawyer, Barry Hirsch of Hirsch Wallerstein Hayum Matlof + Fishman, oversaw the deal on behalf of American Zoetrope. Lauren Bixby and Christopher Davis oversaw the deal for Lionsgate.
Best of Deadline
Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
