Francis Ford Coppola debunks retirement rumors, discusses new film's plans
What's the story
Following the recent premiere of his ambitious film Megalopolis at the Cannes Film Festival, acclaimed director Francis Ford Coppola dismissed rumors of retirement. The 85-year-old filmmaker confirmed his ongoing commitment to cinema during a press conference, stating, "I can assure you; I plan to still be here in 20 years. I've already started writing a new film." This announcement comes amid speculation about his potential retirement plans.
Risk acceptance
Coppola unfazed by financial risks of 'Megalopolis'
Coppola's latest venture, Megalopolis, was a high-stakes project with a budget of $120M. When questioned about the financial risk involved, the director expressed no concerns, stating, "I put the risk in the movie. I have no problems with the financials." "It's how I felt the film should be, and I was paying for it.... There are so many people who, when they die, say 'I wish I had done that.' When I die, I'll say, 'I got to do that.'"
Industry critique
Coppola criticized studios for not picking up his film
Despite the buzz surrounding Megalopolis, no studio has yet picked it up. Coppola attributed this to changes in the industry and criticized studio executives for prioritizing debt repayment over quality filmmaking. He stated, "The studios are in great great debt and their job is not so much to make good movies as to pay their debt obligations." Reportedly, his next project is an adaptation of Edith Wharton's The Glimpses of the Moon and inspired by Leo McCarey's The Awful Truth.