Megalopolis: Forest Whitaker Details Francis Ford Coppola Film - Variety
Forest Whitaker has shed new plot details about Francis Ford Coppola’s mystery project “Megalopolis,” which is set to start shooting in August.
The actor-producer, who is in Cannes to receive the festival’s honorary Palme d’Or, suggested he had a substantial role in the new movie, and spoke favorably of Coppola’s script, which is a long-gestating passion project that’s been in the works for 20 years. Coppola invested more than $100 million of his own resources to make the film, which is his first as a director since 2016’s “Distant Vision.”
“The cast is coming together,” said Whittaker, who praised Coppola as an “amazing filmmaker” that he was excited to work with. The “Last King of Scotland” Oscar winner will star in “Megalopolis” alongside Adam Driver, Nathalie Emmanuel and Jon Voight
Whitaker has also been to Cannes as a producer with such films as Ryan Coogler’s breakout debut “Fruitvale Station” and Chloe Zhao’s ” 2015 film “Songs My Brother Taught Me.”
He is in Cannes this year as a producer on Christophe Castagne and Thomas Sametin’s South Sudan-set documentary “For the Sake of Peace,” which will play in the festival’s Special Screenings section on May 18.
Differentiating between how he approaches producing versus acting, Whitaker said: “As producers, we have to feel like we’re contributing to a dialogue. As an actor, I go by my guts and instincts and personal belief in the world.”
What’s not in the cards for Whitaker, however, is directing. Although he helmed such films as “Waiting to Exhale” (1995) and “Hope Floats” (1998), he said he has “no plans to direct.”
“It takes a lot of time and commitment,” said Whitaker. “It needs to be the proper story … I’m not saying it won’t happen again, just not right now.”
Forest Whitaker has shed new plot details about Francis Ford Coppola’s mystery project “Megalopolis,” which is set to start shooting in August.
The actor-producer, who is in Cannes to receive the festival’s honorary Palme d’Or, suggested he had a substantial role in the new movie, and spoke favorably of Coppola’s script, which is a long-gestating passion project that’s been in the works for 20 years. Coppola invested more than $100 million of his own resources to make the film, which is his first as a director since 2016’s “Distant Vision.”
“The cast is coming together,” said Whittaker, who praised Coppola as an “amazing filmmaker” that he was excited to work with. The “Last King of Scotland” Oscar winner will star in “Megalopolis” alongside Adam Driver, Nathalie Emmanuel and Jon Voight
Whitaker has also been to Cannes as a producer with such films as Ryan Coogler’s breakout debut “Fruitvale Station” and Chloe Zhao’s ” 2015 film “Songs My Brother Taught Me.”
He is in Cannes this year as a producer on Christophe Castagne and Thomas Sametin’s South Sudan-set documentary “For the Sake of Peace,” which will play in the festival’s Special Screenings section on May 18.
Differentiating between how he approaches producing versus acting, Whitaker said: “As producers, we have to feel like we’re contributing to a dialogue. As an actor, I go by my guts and instincts and personal belief in the world.”
What’s not in the cards for Whitaker, however, is directing. Although he helmed such films as “Waiting to Exhale” (1995) and “Hope Floats” (1998), he said he has “no plans to direct.”
“It takes a lot of time and commitment,” said Whitaker. “It needs to be the proper story … I’m not saying it won’t happen again, just not right now.”
