Francis Ford Coppola to pay $15 million for ‘Megalopolis’ marketing after Lionsgate refuses

For Coppola, ‘Megalopolis’ has always been more than just money. He has maintained his stance on his relationship with the science fiction film since day 1.

The $120 million epic ‘Megalopolis’ has become a cash burner for Francis Ford Coppola who not only self financed the venture but now also has to pay $15 million to $20 million for promotions and marketing of the film.

On 17 June, Lionsgate revealed that it would bring the Adam Driver starrer film to US theatres, many people also assumed that it would handle marketing. However, it appears that that is definitely not the case.

Lionsgate plans on screening the feature on more than 1,500 screens, which sources in the distribution world say would require around $15 million to $20 million in marketing. It is yet unclear how much ‘Megalopolis’ will require for its marketing.

The film is also expected to screen in Imax which might turn out to be a blessing for the project which is afloat due to Coppola’s reputation of being one of the greatest directors of all time.

Lionsgate has had a long relationship with Coppola and ‘Megalopolis’ is another feather in their cap.

For Coppola, ‘Megalopolis’ has always been more than just money. He has maintained his stance on his relationship with the science fiction film since day 1. Coppola revealed that he spent 40 years on 'Megalopolis' and even sold part of his winery estate to fund the film. Throughout the press run, Coppola has said that the message of the movie — an obsessive man pouring his all into his passion project — will live on after him.

Lionsgate is expected to distribute the film across the United States and Canada starting on September 27, 2024. The film is likely to release during Christopher Nolan’s rerelease of ‘Interstellar’ and will also go head to head with Todd Philips’ ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ when it arrives on October 4.