Lionsgate apologizes for fabricated quotes in ‘Megalopolis’ trailer

“Lionsgate is immediately recalling our trailer for Megalopolis,” a Lionsgate spokesperson said in a statement to the Associated Press. “We sincerely apologize to the critics involved and to Francis Ford Coppola and American Zoetrope for this inexcusable mistake in our screening process. We made a mistake. We’re sorry.”

The trailer released earlier Wednesday included quotes from critics like Pauline Kael and Roger Ebert from other Coppola films that did not actually appear in their reviews. It seems intended to highlight the critical divisiveness of now-classic films like “The Godfather” and “Apocalypse Now,” which leans toward some of the more negative reactions to “Megalopolis,” the self-financed $120 million epic debut in September.

In the trailer, Kael is quoted as saying that “The Godfather” is “inferior for its artistry.” But Kael loved “The Godfather,” and the phrase was not used in his March 1972 review of the film for The New Yorker. Ebert also did not write that Coppola’s “Bram Stoker’s Dracula” was a “triumph of style over content.” Quotes about “Apocalypse Now” from Rex Reed and Vincent Canby also did not appear in their reviews.

“Megalopolis” has been decades in the making, and it received mixed reviews upon its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year. It has also recently come under scrutiny for alleged misbehavior on set, when videos of Coppola hugging and kissing extras during a club scene were leaked. Representatives have not responded to ’s requests for comment about the videos.

The film will make its North American premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival next month before hitting theaters on Sept. 27.

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