Legendary Godfather director Francis Ford Coppola underwent a scheduled medical procedure at a Rome hospital Tuesday, with his representative dismissing earlier reports of cardiac complications as “not true.”
What Happened
The 86-year-old Oscar-winning filmmaker was admitted to Policlinico Tor Vergata for what his representative described as a “scheduled update procedure” with Dr. Andrea Natale, who has been Coppola’s physician for over three decades.
“Mr Coppola went in for a scheduled update procedure with acclaimed Dr Andrea Natale, his doctor of over 30 years, and is resting nicely,” the representative stated, emphasizing that “all is well.”
Disputing Earlier Reports
Italian media initially reported that Coppola had experienced a mild cardiac arrhythmia before his scheduled operation, requiring doctors to place him under observation. However, his U.S. representative specifically refuted these claims.
“There was not an emergency. He went to the hospital in a car,” the representative clarified, contradicting suggestions of any cardiac incident.
Recent Activities in Italy
Coppola has been a frequent visitor to Italy in recent months. In mid-July, he attended the Magna Graecia film festival in Calabria to present his latest film, Megalopolis. According to reports, he had also been scouting Italian locations for a new production scheduled to begin filming this autumn.
The director recently completed a six-city U.S. promotional tour for Megalopolis on Friday, though it remains unclear when he returned to Italy.
Megalopolis and Recent Work
Coppola’s latest project, Megalopolis, is a $120 million sci-fi epic starring Adam Driver that was largely funded through the sale of his vineyards. The film has received mixed reviews, with critics offering varying assessments of the ambitious production.
Speaking at the Calabria film festival, the five-time Oscar winner shared his philosophical outlook: “Young people say the world is a disaster, but I reply that there is no problem man can’t solve.”
Despite mixed reception for his passion project, Coppola expressed no regrets about his ambitious undertaking, reflecting on his prolific career and future aspirations.
