EXCLUSIVE: For the first time since its 2024 launch, Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis will return to theaters in a limited engagement that will allow audiences to interact with the iconic director.

Coppola decided when he self-financed and shot the provocative film that it would not be put through any domestic-based streaming services or DVDs produced for the U.S. market. He felt it was now time to put it back out.

Reading International Inc. has booked the film in many its cinemas around the country, from New York to Hawaii, to screen simultaneously on October 24. Venues will include Village East Cinemas in New York City. This will be followed by a livestreamed Q&A with Coppola, moderated by his son and collaborator, Roman Coppola, who was second unit director on the picture. Audience members will be able to text their questions before, during and after the film. The filmmaker will answer the best ones live during the presentation.

“Megalopolis is back in its rightful place, theaters, and the interest in seeing it as was intended is growing,” said Coppola. “I am excited to take part in an interactive Q&A across multiple theaters simultaneously.”

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Coppola spent a fortune to personally stake a film that became one of the most expensive indies ever, one he’d been dreaming about for decades. Much the way that audiences continue to discover his other films, Coppola hoped Megalopolis would follow a similar track, and that it will be viewed and debated long after he has passed away. He believes its themes of rebuilding cities and the polarizing political factions will be continually relevant. The film’s ensemble cast is headed by Adam Driver, Shia LaBeouf, Dustin Hoffman, Jon Voight, Nathalie Emmanuel, Laurence Fishburne, Aubrey Plaza and Giancarlo Esposito.

Each screening also will include hard-copy letters from Coppola given to each audience member, containing his official director’s statement about Megalopolis for audience members to read before watching the film. Each screening will also include the famed unique “Live Element,” which was only available at select screenings when the film was first released.

Megalopolis will find its way back in theaters periodically going forward, including the tradition of the film screening at multiple theaters every New Year’s Day. This fulfills a wish from Coppola to have the film be shown on this day as a symbol of coming together and discussing ideas for improvement as a society.

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