After facing criticism for the AI-generated trailer of Megalopolis, Lionsgate has chosen to terminate the employment of the marketing consultant responsible for the video.
Despite the immense anticipation among Francis Ford Coppola fans for his upcoming sci-fi film Megalopolis, their enthusiasm was dampened by a scandal that arose during production in late August of 2024.
Lionsgate Films, the production company responsible for Coppola’s most recent project, removed the latest trailer from circulation when it was revealed that the scathing remarks from renowned critics, which were interspersed throughout the trailer, were fabricated by artificial intelligence.
Following intense criticism for utilizing artificial intelligence and publishing deceptive reviews, Variety revealed that Lionsgate had chosen to sever ties with Eddie Egan, the marketing consultant responsible for creating the trailer.
According to the outlet, sources with knowledge of the production insist that Lionsgate and Egan did not intend to falsify quotes. Instead, it was a mistake in thoroughly verifying and confirming the phrases provided by the consultant.
Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics, Megalopolis was intended to showcase how even Coppola’s most iconic works, such as Bram Stoker’s Dracula and Apocalypse Now, were met with harsh criticism upon their release.
Despite the trailer’s insinuation that critics cited in the trailer did not appreciate Coppola’s films, internet users swiftly disproved this claim by showing that they actually loved them. For instance, The New Yorker’s Pauline Kael was depicted in the video as thinking The Godfather was “diminished by its own artsiness,”but in fact, she was an ardent admirer of the film and lauded every aspect of it.
For over 20 years, Egan and Lionsgate’s film group chairman Adam Fogelson have collaborated, building a long-standing working relationship.
Initially beginning at Universal Pictures, the duo later transitioned to STX Entertainment. Subsequently, Forgelson relocated to Lionsgate, where he assumed the role of vice chair in 2022 and was then promoted to chairman in January 2024.
However, after departing from STX in 2019, Egan chose to work as an independent consultant. Fogelson enlisted Egan’s assistance in promoting Megalopolis, which ultimately led to the scandal.
Despite temporarily ending their working relationship with Egan, the studio also issued an apology for the trailer, stating, “We extend our sincere apologies to the involved critics as well as Francis Ford Coppola and American Zoetrope for this unacceptable mistake in our vetting process. We made a mistake and we deeply regret it.”
Mark your calendars for September 27th, when Megalopolis will make its highly anticipated debut. Be sure to also browse through our selection of the top new streaming movies and our comprehensive list of the best films of 2024 thus far.
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