“One of the greatest surprises in life is when you realize you’re elderly,” Francis Ford Coppola said in a recent statement.
However, that is a source of some solace because everyone enjoys hearing about Grandpa’s experiences from long ago.
The 84-year-old filmmaker of such masterpieces as The Godfather trilogy and Apocalypse Now made the remark when announcing his forthcoming picture Megalopolis on social media for the first time.
The latest obsession of a director with nothing to prove but plenty of stories left to tell, the film features an impressive ensemble cast that includes Adam Driver, Forest Whitaker, Nathalie Emmanuel, Jon Voight, Lawrence Fisburne, Aubrey Plaza, Shia LaBeouf, Jason Schwartzman, Grace VanderWaal, Kathryn Hunter, Talia Shire, Dustin Hoffman, D.B. Sweeney, and Giancarlo Esposito.
Coppola said why he was signing up for Twitter for the first time: “my hope is to give you a glimpse into my life and journey in making the most interesting film of my career, @Megalopolisfilm.”
The story should answer some of the many issues that have been raised about the picture, which ranks among Coppola’s most audacious efforts.
This year, Coppola and Driver denied rumors of mayhem on the set of Megalopolis that had been published by The Hollywood Reporter.
Adam Driver, one of the film’s actors, told Deadline, “I’d like to briefly respond to The Hollywood Reporter article published Monday, January 9th.” Everything is fine! I have no idea what box set you’re referring to. That’s a name I haven’t heard before. I’ve worked in more hectic environments, and this one isn’t even close.
Coppola also denied the THR report, saying Deadline that he is on track and under budget.
What matters to me is that I am on schedule and on budget, and I adore my cast and what I am receiving every day,” Coppola added.
A lady (Emmanuel) torn between her love for her classically oriented father (Whitaker) and her love for her futurist boyfriend (Driver) is at the center of this Coppola-produced, Coppola-written, Coppola-directed picture.
Whatever Coppola’s motivation for joining social media, the flood of praise for one of cinema’s greatest directors was unavoidable.
The majority were overly enthusiastic.
“Welcome! Your Dracula is fantastic, and I can almost guarantee that my mum is currently watching one of your Godfather films. as one supporter put it
“Yes! One more said, “A living great and a genius director who provides us all a Mega cause to go back to the theaters.
Another person remarked, “You have been a tremendous influence on my screenwriting and ambition as a filmmaker.” Although I’m sure you hear it often, “sir,” you truly are a legend.
Some memorials were straightforward:
Many cheering supporters shouted, “Welcome, Maestro!”
“Benvenuto, Francis,” says Cary Elwes, star of “The Princess Bride,” “Glory,” “Saw,” and “Mission: Impossible—Dead Reckoning.”
James Gunn, the writer and director of the Guardians of the Galaxy movie, and president of DC movie, greeted him with “Welcome my friend.”
There were also a few of humorous cautionary notes.
The creation of Apocalypse Now has nothing on the social media horror show, a fan joked.
Francis Ford Coppola is shown in the main photo, courtesy of Shutterstock.
A mistake has been corrected in this updated version.