Coppola's Megalopolis Expands to Graphic Novel: 'Sibling, Not Echo'

In 2024, no film sparked as much debate as Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis. This audacious, distinctive, and, to some, peculiar epic immediately captured the public's attention upon 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, the visionary director is set to bring the story to life in a new medium with the release of Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis: An Original Graphic Novel.

Scheduled for release in October by Abrams ComicArts, the graphic novel adaptation will be penned by Chris Ryall, known for his adaptations of works by genre giants like Stephen King, Harlan Ellison, and Clive Barker. The illustrations will be crafted by Jacob Phillips, acclaimed for his work on 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 shared in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter.

“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, played by Adam Driver, who is driven by a destiny to construct a utopian city. His ambitions, however, put him at odds with the city's mayor, portrayed by Giancarlo Esposito, who is determined to thwart his plans to transform New Rome into Megalopolis. This narrative unfolds as a modern-day Roman fable.

While the film is not currently available for streaming, it can be rented or purchased at various digital movie outlets.