(Credits: American Zoetrope)
Francis Ford Coppola has announced that his most recent and worst-received project, 2024’s Megalopolis, will be released as a graphic novel.
Megalopolis follows visionary architect Cesar Catilina as he clashes with corrupt Mayor Franklyn Cicero. Set in a futuristic, Roman-inspired New York City, “New Rome,” the film was Coppola’s passion project, which he had harboured for almost 40 years. He finally brought it to life by investing his own money into a $120million production that doubled as his first directorial effort in 13 years.
In a statement on Thursday, Coppola explained that the new book will offer fans more than just a re-rendering of his film. “I was pleased to put the idea of a graphic novel in the competent hands of Chris Ryall with the idea that, although it was inspired by my film Megalopolis, it didn’t necessarily have to be limited by it,” he said.
He continued: “I hoped the graphic novel would take its own flight, with its own artists and writer so that it would be a sibling of the film, rather than just an echo. That’s what I feel Chris, Jacob Phillips and the team at Abrams ComicArts have accomplished. It confirms my feeling that art can never be constrained, but rather always a parallel expression, and part of the bounty we can make available to our patrons, audiences and readers.”
The prolific industry veteran Ryall commented that “Coppola’s storytelling challenged and inspired me at every turn,” adding that he hoped he had “created something that both honours and expands the world of the original film.”
Coppola recently received the 2025 AFI Life Achievement Award in a star-studded ceremony. In honour of Coppola’s work, Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Morgan Freeman, Harrison Ford, and Spike Lee gave heartfelt speeches.
Megalopolis was a significant talking point of the event, as it served as a reminder of Coppola’s commitment to his vision and his unwavering belief in art. Driver, in attendance, said: “Francis took $120million and created a singular gesture for what he thought film could be, and I think that’s pretty great.”
The book is set for an October 2025 release date.
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