Lionsgate pulls ‘Megalopolis’ trailer over fake critic quotes controversy

In an unexpected move, Lionsgate has decided to withdraw the recently released trailer for Megalopolis after it was discovered that some of the critic quotes featured in the trailer were fabricated. The issue came to light after Vulture and other media outlets investigated the authenticity of the quotes.

A spokesperson for Lionsgate acknowledged the mistake, stating that the studio was immediately recalling the trailer. They expressed sincere apologies to the critics involved, as well as to the film's director, Francis Ford Coppola, and his production company, American Zoetrope. The spokesperson admitted, "We screwed up. We are sorry."


The controversial trailer had included supposed past criticisms of Coppola's renowned films, such as The Godfather and Apocalypse Now. The quotes attributed to well-known critics like Pauline Kael of The New Yorker and Andrew Sarris of Village Voice were meant to suggest that Megalopolis, like Coppola’s earlier works, might face initial criticism but would ultimately be recognized as a cinematic classic. For example, Kael was quoted as saying The Godfather was "diminished by its artsiness," while Sarris allegedly called it a "sloppy self-indulgent movie."

Other critics misquoted in the trailer included Roger Ebert, Vincent Canby, John Simon, Stanley Kauffmann, and Rex Reed. How these erroneous quotes made their way into the trailer remains unclear.

This trailer issue isn’t the first controversy Megalopolis has faced on its way to theaters. In July, Variety reported allegations of unprofessional behavior by Coppola on set, including a video showing the director kissing extras. However, one of the women involved, Rayna Menz, later defended Coppola, stating that he had not made her or anyone else on set feel uncomfortable. She expressed her disgust at the situation, describing it as an invasion of privacy on what was supposed to be a closed set.

Megalopolis, Coppola's first feature film since 2011’s Twixt, was self-financed with a budget exceeding $100 million. The film is described as a Roman epic set in a fictional modern America. The story centers on the City of New Rome, which must undergo change, leading to a conflict between Cesar Catilina, played by Adam Driver, an artist who envisions a utopian future, and Mayor Franklyn Cicero, portrayed by Giancarlo Esposito, who represents the forces of greed and special interests, clinging to the old ways. The character of Julia Cicero, played by Nathalie Emmanuel, is caught between the two men, struggling to decide what she believes is best for humanity.

The star-studded cast also includes Aubrey Plaza, Shia LaBeouf, Jon Voight, Laurence Fishburne, Kathryn Hunter, and Dustin Hoffman. The film's producers are Barry Hirsch, Fred Roos, and Michael Bederman.


Lionsgate plans to release Megalopolis in U.S. theaters on September 27.

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