In 2024, no film stirred as much controversy and discussion as Francis Ford Coppola's Megalopolis. This audacious, singular, and, to some, peculiar epic captured the spotlight immediately after its premiere at the previous year's Cannes Film Festival. As the year unfolded, it became a focal point for both acclaim and criticism. Now, Coppola is set to expand the narrative into another medium, with Megalopolis being adapted into a graphic novel.
Titled Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis: An Original Graphic Novel, the project is slated for release by Abrams ComicArts in October, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter. The adaptation will be penned by Chris Ryall, renowned for his work on adaptations of acclaimed authors such as Stephen King, Harlan Ellison, and Clive Barker. The illustrations will be crafted by Jacob Phillips, known for his contributions to 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 added, "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."
Megalopolis centers on a visionary architect, portrayed by Adam Driver, who is driven by a destiny to construct a modern utopian city. However, his ambitions clash with the city's mayor, played by Giancarlo Esposito, who is determined to thwart his efforts to transform New Rome into Megalopolis. This narrative weaves elements of a Roman fable into its fabric.
While the film is not currently available for streaming, it can be rented or purchased from various digital movie platforms.
