At Last: Francis Ford Coppola Drops a Birthday Update on His New Movie

Because nobody ever accused Francis Ford Coppola of thinking small, we've got an update on his next project—and, like most things Coppola, it's ambitious, slightly mysterious, and involves a lot of European scenery. Oh, and the news just happened to break right on his 87th birthday. Even in his late 80s, Coppola just can't stop, won't stop.

Francis Ford Coppola Isn't Done Yet (Not Even Close)

Let me back up: Coppola, fresh off the very mixed bag that was Megalopolis (huge budget, tiny box office, critics divided somewhere between 'what did I just see?' and 'please let me see something else'), is heading back to the director's chair for a film called Glimpses of the Moon. This one's based on the Edith Wharton novel from 1922—so, a literary period piece, but with that signature Coppola unpredictability thrown in. Great.

Shooting in Southern Italy, Of Course

This time, Coppola is setting up shop in southern Italy—or so we're told by Vito Bardi, President of the Basilicata region, who took a victory lap on the director's birthday to announce the big news. Bardi is pitching this as a huge deal for Basilicata (and neighboring Calabria), effectively turning the Italian countryside into one big backlot. Apparently, these regions can 'recreate European atmospheres and refined settings' that are perfect for whatever period shenanigans Coppola is cooking up.

What's the Movie Actually About?

If you missed Wharton's book (no judgements), it's a drama about marriage, money, and maneuvering for status among Americans in Europe—a little bit of romance, a lot of awkward social climbing, and some fairly pointed observations about relationships. Coppola has already teased a pretty radical take on all this. In different interviews, he's called it a '30s-style strange musical', noted its 'strong dance and musical elements,' and described the whole thing as 'a very odd confection.' In other words, this probably won’t be your grandma's literary adaptation.

'I've turned it into a very odd confection.' —Francis Ford Coppola

Timeline: The 'How's This Actually Happening?' Part

• 2024: Coppola confirms to The Telegraph that he's working on Glimpses of the Moon, spilling a few details—thinks musical, refers to it as an odd confection.
• The plan: Shoot in the UK and Europe, since after blowing $120 million of his own wine money on Megalopolis, he's hoping for a little help from national subsidies. (Can't blame the guy.)
• Later in 2024: Tells The Washington Post he's moving to London to get it made, repeating that '30s musical' description.
• Soon after: Tells Deadline it will be, quote, 'modestly budgeted.' Which is interesting, considering everything else here.
• Calabria Film Commission puts out a casting call promising production will kick off in December 2025, with plans to shoot in multiple locations—Reggio Calabria, Cosenza, Scilla. Of course, that date came and went with nothing going before cameras.

Not the First Time on Screen

If you've got a deep-cut trivia itch, you might recall Glimpses of the Moon hit the screen all the way back in 1923—as a silent film (directed by Allan Dwan, starring Bebe Daniels, produced by Famous Players-Lasky, distributed by Paramount). Not that you'll be able to stream that version: it’s officially lost to time.

So now, nearly 100 years later, Coppola gets his shot at Wharton's book—complete with southern Italian scenery, musical numbers, and whatever else he decides to throw in. And if the journey of Megalopolis tells us anything, it’s that with Coppola, anything can (and probably will) happen.