Without a doubt, Francis Ford Coppola's upcoming film Megalopolis is his most ambitious film in years. Heralding back to the madness of his classic film Apocalypse Now, it's a sprawling story set to focus on a modern world unable to solve its own social problems with story of political ambition, genius, and conflicted love teased. One that has "the fate of Rome" hovering over every frame. A passion project that is independently-financed with a $100 million-plus budget, it's a tale he's worked two decades to bring to the screen. And now, even more concrete proof of it happening has been given with the announcement of the main cast.
It's been confirmed that Adam Driver (Marriage Story, The Last Duel) is set to take on the lead role that previously was offered to Oscar Isaac before he passed on it. He will be joined by Nathalie Emmanuel (Game of Thrones, F9), Forest Whitaker (The Color of Money), Jon Voight (Heat), and Coppola's former Apocalypse Now collaborator Laurence Fishburne.
This follows rather hectic casting rumors that have seen actors such as James Caan, Cate Blanchett, Zendaya, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Jessica Lange rumored to be testing for roles. In addition, Godfather actor Robert Duvall had said Christian Bale had tested for the lead before Driver was cast while Coppola’s nephew Nicolas Cage was teasing a small role as well.
More concrete information will probably come soon as filming is set to begin in New York City later this year and Hirsch Wallerstein is handling the sale of the film at the Cannes Film Market in hopes of getting the film a distributor. Stay tuned!