Francis Ford Coppola addresses controversy surrounding Shia LaBeouf’s casting in ‘Megalopolis’
There have been a string of controversies attached to Megalopolis ever since the film became public knowledge a few years back. At 85-years-old, the film is likely to be the last for Francis Ford Coppola, and it has proved him to be more controversial than ever.
Aside from the debated use of technology, and reports of misconduct regarding the filmmakers own behaviour on set, the cast for the film have also come under scrutiny. Chief among the actors drawing negative press is Shia LaBeouf.
The actor was fired from the recent thriller Don’t Worry Darling for creating “combative energy” on set. He is also set to appear in court in the coming weeks due to domestic abuse claims made by two ex-girlfriends, including the musician FKA Twigs. While he denies these claims, his inclusion in Megalopolis has been questioned.
“Shia has had problems,” Coppola admitted in an interview with The Telegraph. “He’s so talented, but he’s had a string of problems. And on set, he does create tremendous conflict. His method was so infuriating and illogical, it had me pulling my hair out.”
Nevertheless, Coppola stood by the Holes actor throughout the production, explaining that “art is chaotic. When it’s efficient, something’s going wrong.” And he claims that “art is above politics – or, at least, it should be”.
Thusly, he sees LaBeouf’s on-set behaviour as mere method. “I think he’s getting the set so charged with electricity that his reactions will have the ring of pure truth,” the director explained. “Dennis Hopper did something similar on Apocalypse Now. He would be so nutty that even [Marlon] Brando wanted to throw bananas at him.”
He concludes, regarding the wider chaos and controversial cast in the movie, “The process is painful, but the outcome makes it worth it”. As for his own part in the troublesome saga of the film – Variety claimed that he had been inappropriate with female extras on set during the filming of a nightclub scene, prompting Coppola to sue the publication for libel and malice – he said, “You know, I always felt like a creation of Hollywood”.
Continuing: “Now, Hollywood doesn’t want me any more. They’re the parents that disown the unruly child – they created me, now they don’t want me. I understand it, but it still hurts my feelings. I accept it, but I also can’t”.
Megalopolis has drawn plenty of negative attention to itself, from fake reviews used in trailers to inappropriate behaviour on set, and even wild attempts to use Alexa technology to make the movie interactive. The film itself has followed suit proving highly divisive among audiences. It is due in UK cinemas on September 27th.
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