Francis Ford Coppola’s long-awaited film “Megalopolis” is surrounded by controversy, leading the legendary director to file a lawsuit against a media outlet for reporting on his alleged inappropriate actions while filming.

On Wednesday, the acclaimed filmmaker initiated a defamation lawsuit against Variety and the executive editors responsible for the article in Los Angeles Superior Court, as noted by court documents reviewed by YSL News on Thursday.

On July 6, Variety published a report featuring videos from a crew member that purportedly show Coppola, 85, “attempting to kiss young female extras on the set of his ambitious sci-fi film.” The article indicated that the production lacked measures to report such unprofessional conduct.

Coppola has firmly denied the allegations and is seeking $15 million in damages as well as a jury trial.

“While we will not comment on ongoing litigation, we support our reporters,” a spokesperson for Variety’s parent company, Penske Media Corporation, stated to YSL News on Thursday.

YSL News has reached out to Coppola’s legal team for further comments.

Coppola criticizes ‘false, reckless, and irresponsible reporting’

The lawsuit describes Coppola as a “creative genius” and states, “Jealousy and resentment towards genius lead some individuals to spread reckless falsehoods about those they envy.”

Coppola’s lawsuit accuses Variety of making “false and defamatory statements” intended to damage his reputation and cause him significant emotional distress, claiming “that harm has indeed occurred.”

The lawsuit criticizes Variety for relying on unidentified sources, which Coppola’s attorneys label as “unreliable”, claiming they broke confidentiality agreements related to the “Megalopolis” production.

“The defendants depended on these supposed sources and acted with reckless disregard for the truth of their statements,” the lawsuit asserts.

The filing also contests the claim that “Megalopolis” lacked proper protocols for addressing sexual harassment complaints.

“My over 60 years in this industry cannot compare to the arduous yet artistically rewarding journey of bringing Megalopolis to life. It was a collaborative effort involving countless artists, from extras to stars, to whom I continually showed utmost respect and gratitude,” Coppola explained in a statement to People magazine.

“It is heartbreaking to see our collective work tarnished by misleading and irresponsible reporting. No media, particularly a reputable industry outlet, should be allowed to use secret videos and anonymous sources for its own profit,” he added.

“I don’t aim to settle this in the public eye, but I will passionately defend my reputation and trust that the legal system will hold them accountable.”

The Guardian also reported allegations against Coppola

Variety’s allegations followed a month after The Guardian published a report featuring several anonymous crew members who described Coppola’s behavior towards women on set as being “old school.”

Sources shared with The Guardian that Coppola “reportedly asked women to sit on his lap” and made attempts to kiss some topless extras during the filming of a nightclub scene. One individual claimed the director stated he was “trying to get them in the right mood.”

Darren Demetre, an executive co-producer on “Megalopolis,” defended Coppola, stating to The Guardian, “During the two days of filming a lively Studio 54-inspired club scene, Francis moved around the set to capture the essence of the scene, offering warm hugs and cheek kisses to cast members and background actors.”

Demetre commented, “This was his method of motivating and fostering the club spirit, which was crucial for the film. Throughout the project, I never heard any complaints of harassment or bad conduct.”

The film faced backlash recently when its 2½-minute trailer was retracted shortly after being released last month, following social media users highlighting that the reviews shown in the clip featured fabricated quotes.

“Megalopolis,” a story inspired by the Roman Empire, took Coppola almost forty years to develop. It features a cast that includes Laurence Fishburne, Adam Driver, Aubrey Plaza, Shia LaBeouf, Jon Voight, Dustin Hoffman, Giancarlo Esposito, Nathalie Emmanuel, Jason Schwartzman, and Kathryn Hunter.

“Megalopolis” is set to debut on September 23 in IMAX and will be available in other theaters starting September 27.

For anyone affected by sexual violence, RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline provides free, confidential support 24/7 for survivors and their families in both English and Spanish at: 800.656.HOPE (4673) and Hotline.RAINN.org. For Spanish support, visit RAINN.org/es.

Contributions from: Naledi Ushe