Lionsgate will release Francis Ford Coppola’s $120 million epic Megalopolis in the United States on September 27, after its Cannes debut last month. This will be a widespread distribution.
According to Newscase, this is a distribution contract for Lionsgate. Coppola will own the picture, as is the case with many of his American Zoetrope productions.
Never Let Go, starring Halle Berry, is already set to premiere in theaters on that day, according to Lionsgate. Universal will release DreamWorks Animation’s The Wild Robot, while Paramount will re-release Christopher Nolan’s Warner Bros. co-production Interstellar on its tenth anniversary.
Coppola, as previously said, has already secured Imax cinemas for his all-star cast, which includes Adam Driver, Nathalie Emmanuel, Aubrey Plaza, Giancarlo Esposito, Jon Voight, Shia LaBeouf, and others.
The studio already works with Coppola’s American Zoetrope label, which has published the Oscar-winning filmmaker’s earlier director’s edits, including 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 distribute Megalopolis across all home entertainment platforms.
Coppola’s producer and longtime lawyer, Barry Hirsch of Hirsch Wallerstein Hayum Matlof + Fishman, managed the transaction on behalf of American Zoetrope. Lauren Bixby and Christopher Davis supervised the transaction for Lionsgate.
Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Chair Adam Fogelson said, “Francis is a legend. Many of us were inspired to pursue careers in film because of his contributions to the medium. It is an honor to collaborate with him and deliver this wonderful, adventurous, and completely original film to theaters. At Lionsgate, we want to offer a home for bold and adventurous creators, and Megalopolis demonstrates that no one is more daring than the master, Francis Ford Coppola.”
Coppola went on to say, “One business guideline I’ve always followed and emphasized (to my advantage) is to continue working with firms and teams that have proven to be wonderful friends and partners over time. This is why I am happy that Adam Fogelson and Lionsgate Studios are releasing Megalopolis.
I am convinced they will treat Apocalypse Now with the same gentle love and care that it has received in its 45th year of incredible income and recognition. “During the film, there is a live-action scene in which a genuine actor appears on screen. This happened in Cannes, and the plan was to put it on IMAX screens. I realize Lionsgate wants to fulfill Coppola’s concept for the fourth wall.
Megalopolis received a 7-minute standing ovation during its Cannes premiere, and Coppola then received a three-minute plus standing ovation before the movie’s showing at the Grand Theatre Lumiere. Megalopolis now has a 52% rating from reviewers on Rotten Tomatoes.
James Remar, Talia Shire, Dustin Hoffman, Grace VanderWaal, Chloe Fineman, Jason Schwartzman, Kathryn Hunter, and D.B. Sweeney are among the other stars of Megalopolis.
Coppola’s producer and longtime lawyer, Barry Hirsch of Hirsch Wallerstein Hayum Matlof + Fishman, managed the transaction on behalf of American Zoetrope. Lauren Bixby and Christopher Davis supervised the transaction for Lionsgate.
