Coppola's Megalopolis Expands to Graphic Novel: 'Sibling, Not Echo'

No film in 2024 sparked as much debate and division as Francis Ford Coppola’s *Megalopolis*. From the moment it premiered at Cannes Film Festival, this audacious, visionary, and for some, bewildering cinematic spectacle ignited widespread discussion. Praised for its ambition and criticized for its eccentricity, the film remained a cultural talking point throughout the year. Now, Coppola is set to revisit the story through a new medium, as *Megalopolis* will be adapted into a graphic novel.

The upcoming reinterpretation, titled *Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis: An Original Graphic Novel*, is scheduled for release in October via Abrams ComicArts, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter. The project is penned by Chris Ryall—renowned for his adaptations of works by literary icons such as Stephen King, Harlan Ellison, and Clive Barker—with illustrations by Jacob Phillips, known for titles like *Newburn* and *That Texas Blood*.

“I was pleased to put the idea of a graphic novel in the competent hands of Chris Ryall with the idea that, although it was inspired by my film *Megalopolis*, it didn’t necessarily have to be limited by it,” Coppola shared in a statement. “I hoped the graphic novel would take its own flight, with its own artists and writer, so that it would be a sibling of the film, rather than just an echo.”

“That’s what I feel Chris, Jacob Phillips, and the team at Abrams ComicArts have accomplished. It confirms my feeling that art can never be constrained, but rather always a parallel expression, and part of the bounty we can make available to our patrons, audiences, and readers.”

The narrative centers on a visionary architect (played by Adam Driver), who believes he is destined to construct a modern utopian city. His aspirations, however, place him in direct conflict with the city’s authoritarian mayor (Giancarlo Esposito), who sees his plans for transformation as a threat to the existing order. Set in a reimagined Roman-inspired metropolis, the tale unfolds as a contemporary fable about power, progress, and personal destiny.

*Megalopolis* is currently not streaming but can be rented or purchased through major digital platforms and physical retailers.