Francis Ford Coppola‘s passion project Megalopolis is tracking for an anemic domestic opening in the $5 million-plus range against a budget of $120 million before marketing, according to data compiled by several leading research services. That would rank among the lowest wide launches of the revered filmmaker’s career, and put the movie in danger of incurring major losses.
Lionsgate opens the movie in North American theaters on Sept. 27, several days after hosting an advanced screening at the New York Film Festival on Sept. 23 with support from Imax. The screening will be preceded by a Q&A with Coppola that Imax will beam into 66 of its locations across the U.S. (The revered filmmaker shot part of the movie with Imax-certified cameras.)
Thanks to Coppola’s enduring legacy, Megaloplis made its world premiere in competition at the Cannes Film Festival despite the fact that no major Hollywood studio was willing to board the project after the filmmaker hosted a buyer’s screening prior to Cannes that was attended by almost every top studio executive.
In mid-June, Lionsgate announced it would release and market the film in exchange for a distribution fee. (Sources previously told THR that Coppola was on the hook for the marketing spend.)
Trouble has continued to plague the movie. The marketing of Megalopolis hit a major pothole in late August when an initial trailer was quickly pulled by Lionsgate after it was revealed that critics’ quotes cited in the teaser were incorrect.
Lionsgate released a new trailer Thursday, along with the announcement of the New York Film Festival screening and support from Imax. The new spot doesn’t feature any quotes from reviewers.
“Working with the legendary Francis Ford Coppola has been a complete privilege, and we are proud to have his groundbreaking film take part in the 62nd New York Film Festival,” Adam Fogelson, chair of the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, said in a statement Thursday.
Coppola has wanted to make the film for decades, and finally opted to put part of his personal fortune into the project, which stars Adam Driver as a man obsessed with creating a utopian city. Nathalie Emmanuel, Aubrey Plaza and Giancarlo Esposito also star.
Lionsgate has longstanding ties to Coppola and his American Zeotrope banner, handling home entertianment rights for a number of titles, including Apocalypse Now Final Cut, The Conversation, The Cotton Club Encore, Tucker: The Man and His Dream and One From the Heart: Reprise.
Megalopolis will have a footprint in select Imax locations.
