Megalopolis was one of the big swings of 2024, with Oscar-winning filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola putting decades of his life into its development and betting tens of millions of his own money on a project that he hoped would become an enduring part of his legacy.
It told the story of an obsessive architect Cesar Catilina (Adam Driver), who wanted to create a utopian city, but finds himself at odds with Mayor Franklyn Cicero (Giancarlo Esposito). The film was polarizing, to say the least. It failed to light up the box office and earned mixed reviews, but it certainly sparked conversation, becoming one of the most talked about movies in Hollywood last year.
Now, the Godfather filmmaker’s work will get a re-interpretation with Francis Ford Coppola‘s Megalopolis: An Original Graphic Novel.
Writer Chris Ryall penned the book, after building a career adapting the works of authors such as Stephen King, Clive Barker and Harlan Ellison. Jacob Phillips, known for That Texas Blood and Newburn, is behind the art, with Abrams ComicArts plotting an October launch for the book.
“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,” said Coppola in a statement. “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.”
Ryall said that “Coppola’s storytelling challenged and inspired me at every turn,” adding that “collaborating with Jacob Phillips brought new depth to the narrative. With Abrams ComicArts, we’ve created something that both honors and expands the world of the original film.”
Phillips stated, “Megalopolis is a giant, awe-inspiring tale which insisted I pushed my artwork to new levels to meet the challenge.”
Abrams publisher Joseph Montagne said, “Coppola’s storytelling genius, paired with Ryall’s writing and Phillips’ dynamic artistry, makes Megalopolis a true landmark in the graphic novel literary canon.”
Megalopolis had an ensemble cast, including Nathalie Emmanuel, Jon Voight, Laurence Fishburne and Aubrey Plaza. It bowed at Cannes last year to a ten-minute standing ovation.
At a press conference the morning after it debuted, Coppola addressed putting his own money into the $120 million project: “The money doesn’t matter. What is important are the friends. A friend will never let you down. The money may evaporate.”
Jacob Phillips
