Megalopolis star Adam Driver outlined why filming Francis Ford Coppola’s original project felt significantly less stressful compared to his experiences with the Star Wars trilogy.
Driver, renowned for his role as the dark character Kylo Ren in the modern Star Wars films, shared insights into how filming the sci-fi movie Megalopolis marked an improvement over typical blockbuster experiences.
“Because [Coppola] was financing [Megalopolis], there was just a greater sense of immediacy,” Driver told DiscussingFilms. “There was no need to stress about decisions being made by others — that’s not unique to Star Wars — such dynamics often arise in high-budget films where significant investments are on the line.”
He elaborated, “There were no producers intervening, no one hovering around Francis trying to steer him in a particular direction they believed the film should take. It was a direct dialogue you had with Francis. Due to this, it became one of the most gratifying shooting experiences I’ve ever had.”
Driver expressed that Coppola’s filmmaking approach allowed them to feel as though they were “rebelling” against the traditional Hollywood blockbuster system, a sentiment audiences will likely experience when watching Megalopolis.
As one of the main actors in the latest Star Wars trilogy, many of Driver’s character motivations and actions required approval through various channels before he could perform in front of the camera.
The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi, and The Rise of Skywalker were produced by two massive studios (Lucasfilm and Disney), and the trilogy saw changes in directors as J.J. Abrams began and concluded the trilogy, with Rian Johnson taking the helm for The Last Jedi.
With numerous stakeholders involved in the films, many storylines and arcs were often added or discarded on a whim, leading to potential frustration for the actors bound to their roles until the end.
In contrast, Megalopolis was directed, written, and financed entirely by Coppola, who only enlisted help in production by collaborating with three others to finalize the project.
However, such minimal oversight does not always yield benefits, as Coppola and Megalopolis have faced several controversies before its release.
Megalopolis is currently playing in theaters. For more recommendations, check out our roundup of the best movies streaming this month and stay updated with our guide to the top films of 2024 so far.
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