Movies 6 months ago

Megalopolis Extra Breaks Silence on Francis Ford Coppola’s Controversial Kiss: 'I Was in Shock

Lauren Pagone, a Megalopolis extra, reveals Coppola kissed and hugged her on set. Her account contrasts with fellow extra Rayna Menz's comments. Read more here.

A second Megalopolis extra is now speaking out about Francis Ford Coppola’s behavior on set.

Lauren Pagone, who appeared in several scenes of the upcoming film, reportedly told Variety that Coppola kissed and hugged her during the filming of a nightclub scene for the sci-fi drama.

“I was in shock. I didn’t expect him to kiss and hug me like that,” Pagone is quoted as saying. “I was caught off guard. And I can tell you he came around a couple times.”

Both Pagone’s and Coppola’s representatives did not immediately respond to Entertainment Weekly's request for comment.

Coppola was first accused of inappropriate behavior on set in a Guardian report from May, which included claims from unnamed sources that the filmmaker “tried to kiss some of the topless and scantily clad female extras” during a nightclub scene. Recently, Variety released two videos showing Coppola interacting with extras during a party scene, including Pagone, who appears in one of the videos with her back to the director before he allegedly embraces and kisses her.

Following Variety’s report, Rayna Menz — another Megalopolis extra featured in one of the videos — told Deadline that Coppola “did nothing to make me or anyone on set feel uncomfortable.”

Pagone decided to speak out after Menz’s comments, expressing frustration that Menz had represented the feelings of the entire cast and crew. “I don’t appreciate anybody speaking for me. I would never speak for that actress,” Pagone said. “I’ve kept my mouth shut. I’ve kept quiet. But it’s frustrating that she’s putting out there, ‘Hey, it was great for everyone’ when she doesn’t know what other people were feeling. You can’t speak for anyone but yourself. My experience was different.”

Megalopolis, a long-cherished project for Coppola, has a budget of $120 million, which he self-financed. Set in a reimagined U.S., the film stars Adam Driver as Cesar Catilina, an architect who clashes with Mayor Franklyn Cicero (played by Giancarlo Esposito) over how to rebuild the city of New Rome after a disaster. The film is set to be released on September 27.