While some, or most, viewers left Francis Ford Coppola’s latest film thinking they had just wasted two hours and 18 minutes of their free time, Coppola is doubling down on his divisive film. Megalopolis was nothing short of a wake-up call for the Apocalypse Now director, but instead of taking the time to think about why his 2024 film wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea, the director is retaliating against his recent Razzie win for Worst Director and throwing himself into making a sister story to the polarizing film. However, this time, viewers don’t have to grapple with off-putting CGI.
The star-studded film received a hearty seven-minute standing ovation at its debut at Cannes, so imagine Coppola’s surprise when wider audiences were displeased. Now, Coppola has announced that he will be taking his unappreciated story to print in a comic titled, Megalopolis: An Original Graphic Novel. In collaboration with writer Chris Ryall, who has spent his career adapting the works of authors such as Stephen King, Clive Barker and Harlan Ellison, and artist Jacob Phillips, known for That Texas Blood and Newburn, Coppola is launching his graphic novel from Abrams ComicArts, as of now, in October.
In a statement about the graphic novel, that he swears will not be a simple one-to-one copy of the movie, Coppola said:
“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. 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.”
‘Megalopolis’ Could Shine in the Graphic Novel Format
Vanity Fair
One of the biggest complaints of those who saw the buzz-worthy film was that the CGI was unsightly. With CGI backgrounds of the sweeping city of Megalopolis being a big feature of the film, some fans could not get past the visual aesthetic. So, putting all the grand visuals on paper might actually be a better format for the large-scale story.
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If Coppola is set on pushing artistic boundaries, then what better medium than a visual novel with great writing and stylized art? Even artist Phillips stated, “Megalopolis is a giant, awe-inspiring tale which insisted I pushed my artwork to new levels to meet the challenge.”
The Megalopolis graphic novel is a chance for an untapped audience to experience the controversial story in a new light, while adding to the narrative of the original film. Who knows? Maybe Coppola will find a wealth of success and acceptance from comic book readers. Fans will have to wait until October, potentially, to make their final verdicts.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
1.5
/5
Release Date
September 27, 2024
Runtime
138 Minutes
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