After enduring the backlash from Megalopolis’ AI-generated trailer, Lionsgate has decided to fire the marketing consultant behind the video.
Lionsgate Films, the studio behind Coppola’s latest venture,pulled the latest trailerafter people discovered the negative quotes from famous critics disparaging the director’s work sprinkled throughout it, which have since been found to be completely made up by AI.
After suffering major backlash for both the use of artificial intelligence and the misleading reviews, Varietyreportedthat Lionsgate decided to part ways with Eddie Egan, the marketing consultant who masterminded the trailer.
The outlet stated that sources close to the production claim it was not Lionsgate or Egan’s intention to fabricate quotes but an “error in properly vetting and fact-checking the phrases provided by the consultant.”
Because Megalopolis hasreceived mixed reviews from critics, the negative quotes were supposed to demonstrate how Coppola’s most iconic works, likeBram Stoker’s DraculaandApocalypse Now,also received harsh reviews when they premiered.
However, internet users were quick to prove the critics cited in the trailer actually loved Coppola’s movies. For example, the video implied The New Yorker’s Pauline Kael thought The Godfather was “diminished by its own artsiness” when, in reality, she adored the movie and praised every aspect of it.
Egan has an extensive history with Lionsgate’s film group chairman Adam Fogelson as the two have worked together over 20 years.
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On top of ending their working relationship with Egan for the time being, the studio also offered an apology for the trailer, writing, “We offer our sincere apologies to the critics involved and to Francis Ford Coppola and American Zoetrope for this inexcusable error in our vetting process. We screwed up. We are sorry.”
Kayla Harrington was a TV & Movies Writer on Dexerto’s US team, specializing in The Boys, The Walking Dead, House of the Dragon, Marvel and Star Wars. She also has bylines at Mashable, BuzzFeed, and The Mary Sue.
