Lionsgate has apologized and pulled the trailer for Francis Ford Coppola’s “Megalopolis” after critics’ quotes were found to be fabricated.
“Lionsgate is immediately withdrawing the trailer for Megalopolis,” a Lionsgate spokesperson said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “We sincerely apologize to the critics involved, director Francis Ford Coppola, and American Zoetrope for this inexcusable error in the review process. We made a mistake. We are sorry.”
Quotes from critics who reviewed Coppola’s other films were used in the promotional trailer for Megalopolis. However, the sentiments of the quotes were not accurate.
‘The Godfather’ director accused of ‘old-fashioned’ treatment of women on set of new film
Megalopolis will premiere on September 27. (Lionsgate via The Associated Press)
“We made a mistake. We’re sorry.”
The trailer for the film, released Wednesday, included quotes from critics like Pauline Kael and Roger Ebert about other Coppola films that didn’t appear in their reviews. The goal seemed to be to highlight the critical divide over classics like “The Godfather” and “Apocalypse Now,” while also focusing on some of the more negative reactions to “Megalopolis,” the self-financed, $120 million epic that came out in September.
The film’s trailer quoted Kael as saying that The Godfather was “weakened by its artistry.” But Kael loved The Godfather, and did not use the phrase in her March 1972 review of the film in The New Yorker. Nor did Ebert write that Coppola’s Bram Stoker’s Dracula was “a triumph of style over substance.” Nor did their reviews feature quotes from Rex Reed and Vincent Canby about Apocalypse Now.
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Francis Ford Coppola has been accused of being “old school” towards women on the set of “Megalopolis.” (Stefan Cardinale – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)
Megalopolis has been a source of controversy. Coppola was accused of acting “old-fashioned” toward women on the set in a New York Times report. The Guardian in May.
A source told the newspaper that the director pulled women onto his lap. While filming a scene in a nightclub, Coppola reportedly tried to kiss extras who were topless or wearing semi-sheer clothing.
He claimed he was “trying to lighten their mood,” according to the newspaper.
A representative for Coppola did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment at the time.
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Francis Ford Coppola directed The Godfather. (Christophe Simon/AFP via Getty Images)
“I have known and worked with Francis and his family for over 35 years,” Darren Demeter, co-executive producer of Megalopolis, told The Guardian at the time. “As one of the first co-directors and executive producer on his new epic Megalopolis, I helped oversee and advise him on the production and ran the second unit. Francis has successfully produced and directed a major independent film, making all the tough decisions to ensure it was delivered on time and on budget, while remaining true to his creative vision.”
“We shot a party scene in a Studio 54-style nightclub for two days, with Francis walking around the set to liven up the scene by offering hugs and kisses on the cheek to the cast and players in the background,” the statement read. “It was his way of helping to inspire and establish the atmosphere of the club, which was so important to the film. I was not aware of any complaints of harassment or misconduct during the course of the project.”
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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