‘Megalopolis’ Star Laurence Fishburne Was Busy Watching the DNC When Trailer Drama Unfolded

‘Megalopolis’ Star Laurence Fishburne Was Busy Watching the DNC When Trailer Drama Unfolded

As a lifelong movie buff and someone who has had the privilege of working with the greats in Hollywood, I can confidently say that Laurence Fishburne is no stranger to epic productions and talented directors. Having worked alongside Francis Ford Coppola in the iconic “Apocalypse Now” back in 1979, it’s a treat for me to see him helming another ambitious project like “Megalopolis.”


Laurence Fishburne found himself thinking about politics as he heard about the uproar caused by the latest trailer for Francis Ford Coppola’s big-name film, Megalopolis.

Prior to the August 30 premiere of his upcoming sci-fi thriller “Slingshot”, Oscar-nominated actor Laurence Fishburne chatted with The Hollywood Reporter. In this film, he shares screen time with Casey Affleck. Additionally, Fishburne is set to appear in the soon-to-be-released “Megalopolis” alongside Adam Driver, Giancarlo Esposito, and Nathalie Emmanuel. However, last week, controversy arose when Lionsgate withdrew the trailer for “Megalopolis” after it was found that it contained false quotes from renowned film critics about other Francis Ford Coppola projects.

In the Megalopolis trailer, Fishburne shares that he was abroad when the events took place. Incidentally, he was in the process of watching clips from the Democratic National Convention when he received news about the situation.

“In London at the moment, someone mentioned something to me, but I was engrossed in watching the DNC. I replied, ‘I must concentrate on this; I don’t have time for anything else.’ Therefore, I’m not fully informed about what it is they were talking about.” (with a laugh)

Fishburne concurs with those who found it hard to grasp the events depicted in the contentious trailer, saying simply, “It’s certainly peculiar.”

‘Megalopolis’ Star Laurence Fishburne Was Busy Watching the DNC When Trailer Drama Unfolded

In the trailer, there are some dialogue excerpts not found in actual reviews. For instance, a quote attributed to Andrew Sarris from The Village Voice is presented as calling The Godfather a “sloppy self-indulgent movie,” and a supposed remark by Pauline Kael in her New Yorker review that the film was “diminished by its artsiness.” It’s been reported that Lionsgate has severed ties with marketing consultant Eddie Egan, who worked on the trailer.

For decades, Coppola’s ambitious dream, “Megalopolis,” has been in the works and reportedly cost $120 million to produce. This film stirred controversy and received mixed reactions when it was first screened at the Cannes Film Festival this year. The latest trailer appears designed to challenge any unfavorable opinions about “Megalopolis” by reminding viewers that critics have been proven wrong in the past about Coppola’s movies, which were later celebrated as masterpieces.

Speaking about Megalopolis, Fishburne expresses his joy to work alongside Coppola again, a collaboration that started back in 1979 with Apocalypse Now. Megalopolis is set to premiere on September 27, with Driver playing an architect aiming high to rebuild New York City from the edge of destruction.

“Fishburne expressed his heartfelt gratitude for getting the chance to assist Francis, collaborate with him, and work alongside an exceptional cast that included Adam Driver, Giancarlo Esposito, Aubrey Plaza, Jon Voight, Dustin Hoffman, and Shia LaBeouf. He was truly impressed by their talent, and he couldn’t help but mention how much he adored the movie.”

He goes on to say, “Francis has shared deeply from his heart, and he’s created another outstanding piece once more. I feel incredibly honored to be involved in this project.”

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2024-08-27 01:24