‘Megalopolis’ star Aubrey Plaza found movie “disturbing” after first reading script
Megalopolis star Aubrey Plaza has revealed she found the Francis Ford Coppola movie “disturbing” after first reading the script.
The film, which was a labour of love for the legendary director who self-financed the production, was a commercial failure at the box office despite Coppola’s grand plans for Megalopolis.
The movie is the subject of Mike Figgis’ new documentary, Megadoc, which explores Coppola’s long road to bring Megalopolis to the screen, and the difficulties he faced, even in convincing actors to appear in the project. It premiered at Venice Classics on August 28th.
Per Variety, Plaza explains in the film that she “had the weirdest Zoom” with the director, before letting viewers watch the conversation for themselves. In the call, Plaza was asked by Coppola to improvise a line and then deliver it to him as various different characters.
She then said of her first thoughts on the movie after reading the script, “This film is a nightmare. Because it was disturbing to me.”
Plaza said the same to Coppola in an email, who replied, “He said, ‘Aubrey, how could you say this, how could you say my movie is like a nightmare, my dear Aubrey. I’m writing something about hope. This movie will change the world. This movie has a positive message.”
The actor then compared Coppola to Roald Dahl’s fictional chocolatier Willy Wonka, before jokingly saying he’s “repressed” like “a good Catholic boy”.
Elsewhere in the documentary, Dustin Hoffman revealed he was “shocked” by Coppola offering him the role as the director had “never asked (Hoffman) to work with him” before. Upon landing the role, the director told him,”‘I just wanted you to know that I wrote this part for James Caan, but unfortunately he passed away.’ And of course I took the part not having a clue what it was, and now that I finished it, I’m not sure I feel very different.”
Despite the mixed reaction to the movie, including from the cast, Coppola was immensely proud of the production and said upon release in 2024, “Our new film Megalopolis is the best work I’ve ever had the privilege to preside over.”
Never Miss A Scene
The Far Out Film Newsletter
All the latest film news from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.