With Megalopolis drawing largely mixed-to-negative reviews from critics (it currently sits at 53% on Rotten Tomatoes), it appears Lionsgate has decided to lean into that by showing moviegoers how Francis Ford Coppola's previous movies were received when they first released.
The first 45 seconds of this new trailer is devoted to reminding us about the negative reviews for The Godfather, Apocalypse Now, and Bram Stoker's Dracula, three movies now widely considered classics.
Laurence Fishburne narrates the preview, praising Coppola as a visionary filmmaker who is years ahead of his time; in case it wasn't obvious, the message the studio is trying to convey is that Megalopolis is also destined to be remembered as a masterpiece...eventually. Right now, though, critics simply don't get it.
That opening is followed by plenty of new shots from the movie and, if nothing else, we'd say this star-studded sci-fi romp looks gorgeous.
"It’s kind of undefinable, which feels very general until you watch the movie," Star Wars actor Adam Driver previously said of Megalopolis. "Then my answer will be perfect. There’s not a lot of precedent for it and it’s wild on a big scale, which is what’s really unique about it."
"He’s a visionary. He’s very much Francis [Ford Coppola], in a way, where he’s investigated every way of how people can do something and is trying not to get stuck on the right answer," he added. "That’s an idea that’s moving to me – and one that reflects Francis."
You can check out the intriguing new trailer for Megalopolis in the players below.
Megalopolis is a Roman Epic fable set in an imagined Modern America. The City of New Rome must change, causing conflict between Cesar Catilina, a genius artist who seeks to leap into a utopian, idealistic future, and his opposition, Mayor Franklyn Cicero, who remains committed to a regressive status quo, perpetuating greed, special interests, and partisan warfare.
Torn between them is socialite Julia Cicero, the mayor's daughter, whose love for Cesar has divided her loyalties, forcing her to discover what she truly believes humanity deserves.
The movie stars Adam Driver, Nathalie Emmanuel, Giancarlo Esposito, Aubrey Plaza, Shia Labeouf, Jon Voight, Laurence Fishburne, Jason Schwartzman, Talia Shire, Grace Vanderwaal, Kathryn Hunter, and Dustin Hoffman.
Written and directed by Francis Ford Coppola, Megalopolis arrives in theaters on September 27.