Acclaimed director Francis Ford Coppola has reportedly been admitted to the Policlinico di Tor Vergata hospital in Rome. According to ANSA sources, the Oscar-winning filmmaker behind cinematic masterpieces such as “The Godfather” and “Apocalypse Now” was hospitalized this morning. Preliminary reports suggest the 86-year-old’s admission to the cardiology department may be linked to atrial fibrillation.
The university hospital has maintained strict confidentiality regarding Coppola’s current health status and any potential surgical treatments planned.
Coppola spent part of the summer in Italy, partly scouting locations for a new film project scheduled to shoot this autumn. In mid-July, he attended the Magna Grecia Festival in Calabria to present his latest film, “Megalopolis.” Addressing a crowd of young people in Soverato as a special guest, Coppola stated: “Young people tell me the world is a disaster… but I reply there is no problem that man cannot solve. We must build a great new future, and do it together for the sake of our children. And tonight, we take a leap into the future.”
Following his Oscar success and rise as a Hollywood icon, Coppola undertook the ambitious, self-financed $120 million epic “Megalopolis.” The critically debated film premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. The project will also be the focus of the documentary “Megadoc,” directed by Mike Figgis, set to debut at the 2025 Venice Film Festival.
Coppola maintains deep ties to Italy, particularly the Basilicata region. His grandfather, Agostino, emigrated from Bernalda in the early 1900s. Coppola became an honorary citizen of the town on May 1, 1989, and frequently vacations there, enjoying the nearby Ionian beaches of Metaponto. The director also has plans to revitalize the Metaponto area and has purchased an ancient palazzo in Bernalda with the intention of converting it into a hotel.
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