Francis Ford Coppola files a lawsuit against Variety for claims of misconduct in the story about ‘Megalopolis’.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Francis Ford Coppola has filed a lawsuit against Variety, claiming that a July article falsely portrayed him as running an unprofessional film set, where he allegedly inappropriately touched and attempted to kiss female extras during the filming of his movie “Megalopolis”.

The lawsuit, which was submitted to the Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday, seeks at least $15 million in damages from the entertainment industry publication. This legal action comes just two weeks before the release of Coppola’s long-anticipated and self-funded film in U.S. theaters.

The lawsuit describes the 85-year-old director, known for classics like “The Godfather” and “Apocalypse Now,” as a “creative genius,” alleging that jealousy from others has led to “knowing and reckless falsehoods” about him.

The suit claims that Variety’s “writers and editors,” who relied on anonymous sources, accused Coppola of significant incompetence in his role as a director, unprofessional behavior on set during “Megalopolis,” and of creating an environment where complaints of harassment could not be voiced. The lawsuit specifically refutes claims that Coppola hugged topless actresses on set, asserting that these allegations are completely false.

The lawsuit also names the article’s reporters, Brent Lang and Tatiana Siegel, as defendants.

It emphasizes that Variety either knowingly spread falsehoods or showed reckless disregard for the truth, pointing to a standard for libel established by the U.S. Supreme Court.

A spokesperson for Variety, Jeffrey Schneider, remarked to The Associated Press, “While we will not comment on active litigation, we stand by our reporters.”

In a statement released on Thursday, Coppola expressed that nothing in his career compares to the challenges and triumphs involved in creating “Megalopolis.” He stated, “It was a collaboration of hundreds of artists, from extras to box office stars, to whom I consistently displayed the utmost respect and my deepest gratitude. To see our collective efforts tainted by false, reckless and irresponsible reporting is devastating.”

The July 26 article cited anonymous reports and footage of a nightclub scene filmed in Atlanta in February 2023. The article claimed Coppola attempted to kiss young female extras and suggested he acted without consequence on the set. It also pointed out that the film’s financial structure lacked traditional oversight mechanisms.

One video featured Coppola, dressed in a white suit, mingling with a dancing crowd, appearing to lean in to hug, kiss, or whisper to several young women. Another video showed him leaning toward a woman, who then pulled away and shook her head.

All the women in the videos were covered, and the Variety article mentioned “topless” extras only in relation to a previous report on these allegations by the Guardian.

A week later, in a follow-up article mentioned briefly in Coppola’s lawsuit, one of the extras, Lauren Pagone, spoke to Variety and allowed her name to be used, saying that Coppola had left her “in shock” after touching, hugging, and kissing her without her consent.

Pagone decided to speak out after another extra, Rayna Menz, claimed in Variety’s sister publication Deadline that Coppola made everyone feel comfortable on set.

Pagone has also filed her own lawsuit in Georgia against Coppola, arguing that her treatment on set constituted civil assault and battery.

When asked for a specific response to that lawsuit, a representative for Coppola said they would not comment further beyond the statement made by the director.

The Associated Press typically does not name individuals who claim to have been sexually abused unless they publicly identify themselves, as Pagone has done.

Before the lawsuit was filed, Coppola was asked by The AP about the touching and kissing allegations. He responded, “I don’t even want to (talk about it). It’s a waste of time.” However, during the same interview, he also stated, “I’m very respectful of women. I always have been. My mother taught me — she was a little nuts — she said, ‘Francis if you ever make a pass at a girl, that means you disrespect her.’ So I never did.”

The lawsuit specifically contests a claim in the Variety article that Coppola inadvertently stepped into a shot and ruined it. The suit argues that Coppola was aware that he would be included in some camera angles, and he was meant to be featured in that scene.

“The average reader would understand that Coppola was so aged and infirm that he no longer knew how to direct a motion picture,” the suit claims.

“Megalopolis” is a Roman epic set in a futuristic New York City and stars Adam Driver and Nathalie Emmanuel. Coppola financed the project largely by selling parts of his extensive wine business.

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AP Film Writer Jake Coyle contributed to this report.