Francis Ford Coppola Expected To Pay Megalopolis Marketing Bill

Francis Ford Coppola's Megalopolis finally got a US release date this week, but the prolific five-time Oscar winner isn't done footing the bill for his passion project.

Lionsgate may have said it's a "true privilege to work with [Coppola]", but The Hollywood Reporter has revealed that the studio won't open its purse wide enough for the film's marketing.

The deal includes putting the epic feature into more than 1500 screens and an IMAX stint, but The Hollywood Reporter says that would require around $15 to $20 million in marketing, something Lionsgate won't be paying for.

Coppola famously funded Megalopolis himself and will retain ownership of the film — as he does with all his movies — but this time, he'll have to provide the budget for marketing, too.

First reactions to Francis Ford Coppola's comeback said it looks a "spectacular mess", and our review dubbed it disappointing chaos. However, curiosity has gotten the better of audiences, who are still keen to get their hands on the mythological movie from one of our greatest storytellers.