A dispute over whether Francis Ford Coppola exhibited unprofessional behavior on the Megalopolis set is intensifying, with multiple parties filing criss-crossing lawsuits.
On Wednesday, Coppola sued Variety for defamation. He denied claims that there weren’t any of the traditional checks and balances in place to protect against sexual harassment and accused the publication of falsifying the statements. This followed one of the extras on Monday filing a lawsuit detailing claims of sexual harassment against the director.
The lawsuits were filed with Megalopolis set to be released in roughly two weeks. Penske Media Corporation, which owns both Variety and THR, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In July, Variety reported that Coppola “appeared to act with impunity on set” following a prior story from the Guardian that claimed he “tried to kiss some of the topless and scantily clad female extras.” It reported, citing two sources, that his behavior was “unprofessional” and that the director “kept leaping up to hug and kiss several women, often inadvertently inserting himself into the shot and ruining it.” Coppola subsequently demanded a correction and retraction to Variety, which declined to do so, according to the complaint.
In the lawsuit, Coppola said that a video attached to the article purportedly showing him trying to kiss some of the extras did not actually do so. He also denied claims that the production didn’t have a human resources department to deal with claims of sexual harassment.
Additionally, the director challenged allegations that he ruined scenes by inserting himself into certain shots.
“The true facts are that there were four cameras shooting during the above-referenced scene and three of the cameras were mobile, with the crew often changing positions,” the complaint states. “Therefore, due to the multiple camera angles, at different times, members of the crew and Coppola were in some of the shots. That was anticipated and unavoidable. That is one reason why shots are edited.”
For the production, cast and crew members signed a non-disclosure agreement, which the complaint states was meant to “assure discretion and confidentiality” and “avoid outside interference or involvement.” Coppola, who seeks at least $15 million, argued that Variety should’ve known its sources were “unreliable” because they signed a non-disclosure agreement, which they breached.
Coppola’s denial of reports of unprofessional behavior run up against a lawsuit filed by Lauren Pagone, an extra during the disputed nightclub scenes, in Georgia state court.
In her complaint, Pagone alleged that Coppola kissed and touched her without consent despite being told that there would be no sexual content in the shots. She said an intimacy coordinator wasn’t provided for the scene with whom she could discuss her concerns. The lawsuit brought claims for battery, assault and negligent failure to prevent sexual harassment, among others.
In June, Lionsgate revealed that it’d bring Coppola’s $120 million passion project to U.S. theaters. It didn’t pay for marketing, with the director footing the bill.
