In Hollywood in 2024, there are almost no risk takers.
We see reboots, remakes, sequels and reinterpretations. Original stories are in short supply and stars are clinging to existing IPs rather than breaking new ground.
Just ask Robert Downey Jr., who will play… north of $80 million play Victor Von Doom in two “Avengers” films.
And then there are Francis Ford Coppola and Kevin Costner.
The living legends have done more than just bring bold, original stories to theaters in 2024. They’ve invested millions of their own money into their respective ventures: “Megalopolis” and “Horizon: An American Saga.”
So why didn’t the press applaud these artists?
In Coppola’s case, journalists have pounced on various narratives that attempt to sink her film before it even hits theaters.
“Megalopolis” is way over budget, we’re told. Coppola’s behavior on set was problematic, with others crying. And, more recently, a video surfaced suggesting that the director had behaved inappropriately With an extra about the film, Variety published the exclusive material.
It’s enough to sink his most ambitious project to date ahead of its September 27 release date.
Except for the extra shown in one of the videos that says It is a “cheap counterfeit”.
“[Coppola] “He didn’t do anything to make me or anyone else on set feel uncomfortable.” [Rayna] Menz told Deadline: “I was disgusted, I was caught off guard because it was a closed set. For someone to have a video of that is just ridiculous and so unprofessional. It’s disgusting because he just talked about how wonderful his wife is. His wife was on set with us most days. It’s disgusting to see that video and the way they were trying to get a message across. Just disgusting.”
What’s going on? Variety has not updated its original report as of yet.
Even riskier? Deadline and Variety are both owned by Penske Media Corporation, and Deadline’s article criticizes its sister publication.
It gets even stranger.
Deadline reports that Menz shared his comments via his Instagram ChannelBut this reporter checked several recent posts and found no such message. The image used in the Deadline article appears to be a screenshot.
Did you post it and then remove it? If so, why?
Even more important?
Why would Coppola behave in such a terrible manner on a project as risky as any film has been in a long time? He has been celebrated in Hollywood for decades and this is the first time we have heard about his alleged inappropriate actions on set involving women.
Yes, his passions boiled over during the making of “Apocalypse Now.” He was an artist on the edge, a young man overwhelmed by the chaotic climate, the heart attack suffered by his co-star Martin Sheen and much more. He is not a lustful soul eager to exploit his crew.
Heck, his wife Eleanor Coppola directed “Heart of Darkness,” the powerful documentary about the making of “Apocalypse Now.”
Why do some lurid stories appear and disappear with little new information or subsequent reporting? It’s similar to the allegations in May that superstar Dwayne Johnson was shown to be a nightmare on the set of the upcoming film “Red One”.
Some of the accusations against Coppola may be true. If they are exaggerated, it is clear that some in the industry are eager to sabotage “Megalopolis,” the director’s career, or both.