Francis Ford Coppola has decided that his new movie Megalopolis isn’t just a film—it’s a five-star buffet of controversy, with a side of eyebrow-raising casting choices. If you thought Hollywood was all about playing it safe, think again! Coppola has gone full “Hold my wine” mode and assembled a cast that’s basically a who’s who of tabloid headlines.
Leading the charge is Shia LaBeouf, who’s been collecting allegations like they’re limited-edition action figures. Then there’s Jon Voight, who’s as enthusiastic about Donald Trump as a kid in a candy store. And let’s not forget Dustin Hoffman, who’s allegedly got more skeletons in his closet than a Halloween store.
But why, you ask, did Coppola decide to invite this trio of drama to his cinematic dinner party? Well, according to the maestro himself, he wanted to make sure nobody accused him of being “woke.” Because if there’s one thing Coppola can’t stand, it’s the idea of his movie being labeled a Hollywood lecture series.
“I thought it’d be fun to throw together a group of people who’ve been canceled harder than my gym membership,” Coppola told Rolling Stone with a wink. “We’ve got archconservatives, we’ve got progressives, and we’ve got everything in between. It’s like a political potluck where nobody brought the same dish.”
Coppola also sang the praises of Shia LaBeouf’s method acting process, which sounds like it’s just as intense as you’d expect from a guy who once livestreamed himself watching his own movies for 24 hours straight. “I didn’t know what to expect, but Shia turned out to be like Dennis Hopper on espresso,” Coppola shared, adding that he created a rehearsal process that could only be described as “avant-garde,” which is code for “I had no idea what I was doing, but it kind of worked.”
And then there’s Jon Voight, whose political views are about as different from Coppola’s as pineapple on pizza. But did that stop them from working together? Absolutely not! “This could easily turn into a political food fight,” Coppola joked. “But I’ll get an earful from my publicist if I go down that road. Let’s just say, we’re all adults here, and we somehow managed to keep it civil. Mostly.”
In the end, Coppola hopes Megalopolis does more than just entertain—it’s supposed to ignite the kind of conversation that could, you know, maybe save the world or at least get people talking. “We need to have those big, messy conversations,” he declared. “Because without that, you can forget about utopia. We’ll be stuck in the dystopia, and nobody wants that, right?”
So, get ready to grab your popcorn and dive into Megalopolis when it hits theaters on September 27. Whether you’re here for the drama, the politics, or just to see if this wild experiment actually works, one thing’s for sure—it’s going to be one heck of a ride!
