In 2024, no movie stirred as much debate and discussion as Francis Ford Coppola's Megalopolis. This bold, distinctive, and, to some, eccentric epic captured the spotlight right from its debut at the previous year's Cannes Film Festival. As the year unfolded, the film garnered both fervent acclaim and sharp criticism. Now, Coppola is set to expand the narrative of Megalopolis into another medium, with the release of a graphic novel adaptation.
Titled Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis: An Original Graphic Novel, the book is slated for release in October by Abrams ComicArts, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter. The graphic novel will be penned by Chris Ryall, renowned for his adaptations of works by acclaimed genre writers 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.
“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,” Coppola stated to the outlet.
“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 narrates the journey of a visionary architect, portrayed by Adam Driver, who is driven by a destiny to construct a contemporary utopian city. However, his ambitions clash with the city's mayor, played by Giancarlo Esposito, who is determined to thwart his plans to transform New Rome into Megalopolis. This tale is framed as a modern Roman fable.
While the film is not currently accessible for streaming, it is available for rent or purchase across various movie platforms.
