Director of The Godfather rushed to hospital—here’s what we know
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Director Francis Ford Coppola, the mind behind The Godfather and Apocalypse Now, has reportedly been hospitalised in Italy.
The 86-year-old had been in the country presenting his latest film when his health took a concerning turn.
Unconfirmed reports hint at heart surgery, though no official statement has been made.
Coppola was in Rome when he was taken to hospital on Tuesday morning, according to local outlets.
He had been in Calabria for a special screening of his self-financed epic, Megalopolis, a $120 million project that premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival to mixed reviews.
The director spent part of his summer in Italy, scouting locations for a new film he hoped to begin shooting in autumn.
In mid-July, he appeared in Soverato as a guest of the Magna Graecia Film Festival, where he shared an optimistic message with young fans.
‘Young people tell me the world is a mess,’ he said at the time, ‘but I tell them there's no problem that humanity can't solve.’
‘We must build a great new future, and do it together for the sake of our children. And tonight, we're taking a leap into the future.’
Coppola has long-standing ties to Italy—especially Basilicata, where his grandfather Agostino emigrated from in the early 1900s.
On 1 May 1989, Coppola became an honorary citizen of Bernalda, a Lucanian town he often visited for holidays and relaxation by the Ionian Sea.
He even purchased an old building there to convert into a hotel as part of a revitalisation project for the Metaponto area.
Though born in Detroit, Coppola spent most of his childhood in Queens, New York, raised by his Italian-American family.
His father was a flautist in the local orchestra, and his early life was steeped in music and storytelling.
Coppola’s breakthrough came with The Godfather in 1974, though he had found earlier success with Finian's Rainbow in 1968.
He was initially sceptical of Mario Puzo’s novel, calling it ‘cheap’, and wasn’t the studio’s first choice to direct.
‘I was always on the verge of getting fired,’ he once recalled.
Despite the doubt, The Godfather became one of the most critically and commercially successful films of all time, credited with reshaping modern cinema.
The director went on to win five Oscars and helm other iconic films including Peggy Sue Got Married and Bram Stoker's Dracula.
His latest project, Megalopolis, was a deeply personal one—an ambitious vision that critics met with disappointment.
It is now the subject of Megadoc, a documentary directed by Mike Figgis, set to premiere at the 2025 Venice Film Festival in late August.
Coppola’s wife, Eleanor, who stood by him throughout his career, died last spring.
Health scares can strike without warning, and even the most glamorous lives aren’t immune to sudden emergencies.
When someone well-known lands in hospital, it often reminds us how quickly things can change.
Read more: Real Housewives star undergoes emergency surgery! What happened?
A titan of cinema may be facing one of his most personal challenges yet—will his legacy find its final act in Italy?
The 86-year-old had been in the country presenting his latest film when his health took a concerning turn.
Unconfirmed reports hint at heart surgery, though no official statement has been made.
Coppola was in Rome when he was taken to hospital on Tuesday morning, according to local outlets.
He had been in Calabria for a special screening of his self-financed epic, Megalopolis, a $120 million project that premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival to mixed reviews.
The director spent part of his summer in Italy, scouting locations for a new film he hoped to begin shooting in autumn.
Coppola hospitalised after Rome health scare. Image source: Instagram/francisfordcoppola
In mid-July, he appeared in Soverato as a guest of the Magna Graecia Film Festival, where he shared an optimistic message with young fans.
‘Young people tell me the world is a mess,’ he said at the time, ‘but I tell them there's no problem that humanity can't solve.’
‘We must build a great new future, and do it together for the sake of our children. And tonight, we're taking a leap into the future.’
Coppola has long-standing ties to Italy—especially Basilicata, where his grandfather Agostino emigrated from in the early 1900s.
On 1 May 1989, Coppola became an honorary citizen of Bernalda, a Lucanian town he often visited for holidays and relaxation by the Ionian Sea.
He even purchased an old building there to convert into a hotel as part of a revitalisation project for the Metaponto area.
Though born in Detroit, Coppola spent most of his childhood in Queens, New York, raised by his Italian-American family.
His father was a flautist in the local orchestra, and his early life was steeped in music and storytelling.
Coppola’s breakthrough came with The Godfather in 1974, though he had found earlier success with Finian's Rainbow in 1968.
He was initially sceptical of Mario Puzo’s novel, calling it ‘cheap’, and wasn’t the studio’s first choice to direct.
‘I was always on the verge of getting fired,’ he once recalled.
Despite the doubt, The Godfather became one of the most critically and commercially successful films of all time, credited with reshaping modern cinema.
The director went on to win five Oscars and helm other iconic films including Peggy Sue Got Married and Bram Stoker's Dracula.
His latest project, Megalopolis, was a deeply personal one—an ambitious vision that critics met with disappointment.
It is now the subject of Megadoc, a documentary directed by Mike Figgis, set to premiere at the 2025 Venice Film Festival in late August.
Coppola’s wife, Eleanor, who stood by him throughout his career, died last spring.
Health scares can strike without warning, and even the most glamorous lives aren’t immune to sudden emergencies.
When someone well-known lands in hospital, it often reminds us how quickly things can change.
Read more: Real Housewives star undergoes emergency surgery! What happened?
A titan of cinema may be facing one of his most personal challenges yet—will his legacy find its final act in Italy?
