The release of the trailer for Francis Ford Coppola’s highly anticipated sci-fi epic, Megalopolis, has stirred considerable controversy due to the inclusion of fabricated quotes attributed to well-known film critics. The two-and-a-half-minute trailer, which debuted online on Wednesday, features a series of critical remarks supposedly made by critics such as Pauline Kael of The New Yorker, Andrew Sarris of The Village Voice, and Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times. These quotes purportedly critique Coppola’s past works, including the revered classics The Godfather, Apocalypse Now, and Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
The trailer’s narrator introduces these fabricated critiques with the statement, “True genius is often misunderstood,” setting a tone that implies a deep-seated struggle with artistic reception. One of the quoted remarks, falsely attributed to Kael, disparages The Godfather by describing it as “diminished by its artsiness,” a sentiment that Kael never actually expressed. This misrepresentation sparked an immediate backlash from both critics and the public.
Social media users were quick to point out the discrepancies between the quotes in the trailer and the original reviews. The criticism was amplified when it became evident that these quotes were not part of any legitimate review. Kyle Buchanan, a New York Times columnist, highlighted the issue on Twitter, suggesting that the quotes might have been generated by an erroneous AI response. This led to widespread outrage and disappointment among fans and critics alike.
In response to the controversy, Lionsgate, the studio behind Megalopolis, issued a formal apology. A spokesperson for the studio stated, “We offer our sincere apologies to the critics involved and to Francis Ford Coppola and American Zoetrope for this inexcusable error in our vetting process. We screwed up. We are sorry.” The statement confirmed that the trailer was being recalled from Lionsgate’s official YouTube channel, and corrective measures were being implemented.
The backlash did not overshadow the mixed reviews that Megalopolis received during its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year. The film, which boasts a star-studded cast including Adam Driver, Aubrey Plaza, Shia LaBeouf, Jon Voight, and Dustin Hoffman, was described by some critics as “staggeringly ambitious,” while others found it to be “absolute madness.” The divisive nature of the film reflects the broader debate surrounding Coppola’s artistic vision and his approach to filmmaking.
Despite the controversy, the trailer has also garnered praise for its audacious and confrontational tone. Some viewers appreciated Coppola’s bold move to address his critics directly and found the trailer’s brashness to be a refreshing departure from conventional marketing strategies. “The BALLS on Coppola to open the new Megalopolis trailer like a diss track about people calling him a failure,” one user wrote on Twitter.
As Megalopolis approaches its release date on September 27, the film’s marketing strategy continues to be a topic of debate. While the trailer’s controversy may have initially overshadowed the film’s content, it has undoubtedly sparked interest and discussion about Coppola’s latest cinematic endeavor.
