Lionsgate made headlines this week when they were forced to recall the trailer for Francis Ford Coppola’s highly-anticipated film, “Megalopolis.” The reason? Critics’ quotes featured in the trailer turned out to be completely fabricated.
In a statement to The Associated Press, a Lionsgate spokesperson admitted to the error, saying, “We screwed up. We are sorry.” The fabricated quotes included remarks from famous film critics about other Coppola movies, such as “The Godfather” and “Apocalypse Now.”
For example, the trailer quoted critic Pauline Kael as saying “The Godfather” was “diminished by its artsiness,” which was a completely inaccurate representation of Kael’s true feelings about the film. Similar inaccuracies were found in quotes attributed to Roger Ebert, Rex Reed, and Vincent Canby.
“Megalopolis,” a self-financed $120 million epic, has been in the works for decades and received mixed reviews after premiering at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year. The film has also faced controversy over alleged misconduct on set, further complicating its release.
Despite these setbacks, “Megalopolis” is set to make its North American premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival before hitting theaters on September 27. Film enthusiasts eagerly anticipate the release, eager to see how Coppola’s latest creation will be received by audiences and critics alike.
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