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Blake, Wm. When the Morning Stars Sang Together. 1805.

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Francis Ford Coppola’s “Megalopolis” was screened for the first time last night, twenty years after its conception, at the Universal CityWalk IMAX Theater. The event was attended by distributors, family, friends, and an array of celebrities, including Nicolas Cage and Al Pacino, alongside cast members Shia LaBeouf and Talia Shire.

The film, featuring Adam Driver and Giancarlo Esposito in leading roles, explores the aftermath of a disaster in a decaying New York-like city. It poses a debate between whether to embrace the future and build a utopia with renewable materials, or take a traditional rebuilding strategy, full of concrete. At the heart of the story is the mayor’s daughter, Julia, played by Nathalie Emmanuel, caught between political visions and seeking personal meaning.

“Megalopolis” is expected to be released in the U.S. in late 2024. The cast, including Jon Voight, Laurence Fishburne, and Aubrey Plaza, has been praised for their performances in the story.