" We want to be able to call for any inquiry we have to require in purchase order to really front at why this state is separate in good order now , and that ’s going to provide an energy that will shoot down those people who need to ruin our democracy . "

Francis Ford Coppolaaddressed the controversial cast in his latest film,Megalopolis.

Megalopolis,Francis’s big budget epic 40 years in the making, has made headlines forreportsof the director’s unprofessional and erratic onset behavior, thevisual effectsteam being fired halfway through shooting, and most recently, a trailer thatreportedlyincluded made-up reviews attributed to well-known critics.

Another point of controversy is the cast.MegalopolisstarsAdam Driver,Giancarlo Esposito, Nathalie Emmanuel,Laurence Fishburne, andAubrey Plaza.

However, it also features several actors involved in various controversies and who were, more or less, “canceled” — Shia LaBeouf, Dustin Hoffman, and Jon Voight.

Shia wassuedby his ex-girlfriends, including FKA twigs, for “sexual battery, assault, and infliction of emotional distress.” Before this, Shia had been arrested several times on dismissed charges, according to public records and newspaper reports.

Dustin wasaccusedby multiple women, including costars, of sexual assault, according to various reports, although his attorney has called the accusations “defamatory falsehoods.”

While different from the other actors' controversies, Jon has been criticized for his friendship andsupportof former president Donald Trump and his polarizing archconservative stances.

In an interview withRolling Stone, Francis explained that including these actors in the film was intentional.

“What I didn’t want to happen is that we’re deemed some woke Hollywood production that’s simply lecturing viewers,” Francis said. “The cast features people who were canceled at one point or another.”

“There were people who are archconservatives and others who are extremely politically progressive. But we were all working on one film together. That was interesting, I thought,” he said.

Speaking of Shia, Francis said his method process stood apart from the other actors. “It was a very creative, interesting week of rehearsals. You could see the actors find the characters. Shia really took to it.”

“I had no experience working with him prior to this, but he deliberately sets up a tension between himself and the director to an extreme degree. He reminds me of Dennis Hopper, who would do something similar, and then you’d say, ‘Just go do anything,’ and then they go off and do something brilliant.”

As for Jon, Francis admitted that while they have different political views, this ultimately did not prevent them from making the film. “This steers me toward politics, and my publicist will yell at me if I start talking about politics,” Francis told Rolling Stone. “[Megalopolis] won’t cure our ills. But I honestly believe that what will save us is the fact that we’ve got to talk about the future.”

“We want to be able to ask any questions we have to ask in order to really look at why this country is divided right now, and that’s going to provide an energy that will defeat those people who want to destroy our republic,” he added. “I made this film to contribute to that. And all I want is for this movie to start a conversation. You can’t have a utopia without a conversation.”

Megalopoliswill be released in theaters on Sept. 27.

Giancarlo Esposito, Laurence Fishburne, Nathalie Emmanuel, Francis Ford Coppola, Adam Driver, and Aubrey Plaza posing together at an outdoor event

Shia LaBeouf on the red carpet wearing a black tuxedo with a bow tie

Dustin Hoffman at a public event, wearing a black shirt beneath a blue jacket

Jon Voight at a red carpet event, wearing a dark suit with a white dress shirt and a blue tie with printed words

A large group of celebrities stand on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival, posing for a photo in elegant formal attire

Shia LaBeouf, Jon Voight, Aubrey Plaza, Adam Driver, Francis Ford Coppola, Rumer Willis, and others at a red carpet event in formal attire

Shia LaBeouf on the red carpet wearing a black tuxedo and bow tie, with slicked-back hair and a full beard

Two unidentified men on the red carpet in tuxedos, one adjusting his sleeve, the other with a white scarf, in a lively conversation

Jon Voight on the red carpet, wearing a black tuxedo with a bow tie and a white scarf. He is smiling and looking to his side

Aubrey Plaza, Adam Driver in white tuxedo, and Francis Ford Coppola on a red carpet, with photographers in the background