Francis Ford Coppola’s MEGADOC shows the chaos behind his $120M dream movie

Francis Ford Coppola’s decades-long obsession with Megalopolis is finally being laid bare in the first trailer for MEGADOC. The behind-the-scenes documentary, directed by Mike Figgis, peels back the curtain on Coppola’s $120 million self-financed gamble, capturing the chaos and brilliance that defined its creation.

Described as a modern-day Hearts of Darkness, the film reveals the extremes the 85-year-old director endured to bring his futuristic vision of “New Rome” to life. The footage shows Coppola working with Adam Driver, Aubrey Plaza, and Shia LaBeouf in a series of unconventional rehearsals, where improvisation and intense emotional exercises push the actors beyond traditional boundaries.

“Filmmaking is play,” Coppola is heard saying in one scene, a phrase that becomes the guiding spirit of both the documentary and his sprawling sci-fi epic. Viewers also get glimpses of enormous city sets, armies of extras, and the political allegories woven into his reimagining of New York as a crumbling empire on the brink.

The documentary isn’t just about Megalopolis, it’s about Coppola himself. His determination to maintain full creative control, his vulnerability in moments of doubt, and his relentless pursuit of legacy take centre stage. The scale of the project and the financial risk have left film fans calling the documentary a study in obsession as much as artistry.

MEGADOC premiered earlier this month at both the Venice and Telluride Film Festivals, where critics were quick to note its intensity and unflinching portrayal of Coppola’s struggle. With Utopia distributing, the film is set for a limited theatrical release on September 19 before expanding further.

Online, reaction has been swift. Cinephiles on X have called it “a once-in-a-generation look at genius unchained,” while others admitted the trailer left them “overwhelmed and fascinated” by the scale of Coppola’s gamble. For fans of filmmaking at its most daring, MEGADOC is shaping up to be essential viewing.