In 2024, no film stirred as much controversy and conversation as Francis Ford Coppola's Megalopolis. This bold, unique, and often polarizing epic captured the world's attention from its debut at the previous year's Cannes Film Festival, sparking debates that continued to reverberate throughout the year. Now, the visionary director is set to bring this narrative to a new medium with the release of Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis: An Original Graphic Novel, scheduled for October by Abrams ComicArts.
The graphic novel adaptation will be penned by Chris Ryall, renowned for his adaptations of works by genre giants like Stephen King, Harlan Ellison, and Clive Barker. The illustrations will be crafted by Jacob Phillips, known for his work on Newburn and That Texas Blood.
Coppola expressed his enthusiasm for the project, stating, "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." He further praised the efforts of Ryall, Phillips, and the Abrams ComicArts team, emphasizing 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 centers around a visionary architect, portrayed by Adam Driver, who is driven by the belief that it is his destiny to construct a modern utopian city. His ambitious project to transform New Rome into Megalopolis puts him at odds with the city's mayor, played by Giancarlo Esposito, who is determined to thwart his plans. This narrative unfolds as a contemporary Roman fable.
While the film is not currently available for streaming, it can be rented or purchased from various movie platforms.
