Megalopolis

Warning : bear SPOILERS for Megalopolis !

Francis Ford Coppola’sMegalopolisis partially enliven by the Catilinarian Conspiracy , a real historical event from ancient Rome . The 2024 sci - fi epic poem is a passion task of the legendary director , who ego - financed the flick to finally make it after X of agitation . Megalopolisexplores the desire ofCesar Catilina ( Adam Driver)to work up a utopia known as Megalopolis from what he views as the crumple civilisation of New Rome . His aspiration is met with plenty of confrontation , whether from New Rome mayor Franklyn Cicero ( Giancarlo Esposito ) or Cesar ’s cousinClodio Pulcher ( Shia LaBeouf ) .

The Roman influence overMegalopolisis clear from the very beginning of Francis Ford Coppola ’s film , and it does not disappear as it continues . Whether its characters with gens of renowned hoi polloi in popish history , wearable made similarly , or futurist America involve on the New Rome name , the movie is heavily tied to Rome . One equivalence that is not directly made in the movie is that betweenMegalopolis ' endingand the Catilinarian Conspiracy . The true account of these events heavily inspired Coppola ’s narrative .

Megalopolis 2024 New Film Poster

The True Story Of Rome’s Catilinarian Conspiracy

A Roman Rebellion From 63 BC

The Catilinarian Conspiracy is the name of an event from ancient Rome in 63 BC where a politico seek to reverse the then - current leaders in power . The man who started the movement was Lucius Sergius Catilina , also known as Cataline . He spent the anterior years seek to fix a spot in the consulship but was repeatedly rejected , despite his close conjunction with several of the figureheads . This lead Cataline to invent a plot to overturn the consulship , specifically targeting Marcus Tullius Cicero and Gaius Antonius Hybrida . Cataline enter several former politicians to his cause early on on .

Cataline ’s architectural plan for a coup that would end with him in ability gained steam ahead of time on , and it was before the remainder of 63 BC that Cicero and his allies learned of his plans from letters give to them by Marcus Licinius Crassus . Thisled to an attempted character assassination of Cicero in November 63 BC , and Cataline was forced to fly the metropolis . Cicero ’s power grew during this time , carry out citizens without trial who were thought to be aligned with Cataline . He was able-bodied to do so thanks to the senate declaringsenatus consultum ultimum .

Senatus consultum ultimumis the Roman Senate ’s fiat give reinforcement to leaders to use the full extent of their powers to protect the state at any cost

Adam Driver as Cesar Catilina in Megalopolis and him and Cesar standing over New Rome

Custom Image by Cooper Hood

Cicero ’s executions set out the end of the Catalinarian Conspiracy . They led to a decrease in accompaniment for Cataline ’s cause and a final conflict between the opposing forces in early 62 BC.Cataline died in the engagement , as Cicero ’s co - consul Antonius led the Roman army to a triumph . The end termination initially brought Cicero quite a little of extolment for protect the state , but all were not pleased with the lengths he went to do so . This even led to Publius Clodius Pulcher put a practice of law into effect that force Cicero to flee for a short time after the Catalinarian Conspiracy was over .

Did Julius Caesar Have A Role In The Catilinarian Conspiracy?

Julius Caesar Is A Partial Inspiration For Adam Driver’s Cesar Catilina

Adam Driver ’s fibre inMegalopolisis a clear rack - in for Cataline thanks to his last name , but exchange his name to Cesar is also noteworthy considering the chronicle of Roman emperor Julius Caesar . Althoughthe most notable event in Caesar ’s lifespan happened after the Catalinarian Conspiracy was over , the event still play a role in his continued ascent to power . At one point , Cicero and his consul ask members of the senate to count in on what should bechance to a few prisoners . They all vote for the death penalty , except for then praetor - chosen Julius Caesar .

Julius Caesar became Rome ’s emperor in 49 BC , 13 year after the Catalinarian Conspiracy ended

Caesar proposed that the criminals should receive a life time in prison house , which was illegal without first having a run . Still , many other politician initially liked the non - deadly penalization suggestion , which was consider as more soft than the death penalty . It was only after he share his thoughts that Cato the Younger swayed the senate back in favor of the destruction penalty pick . There was even a hypnotism made by Cato that Caesar was act with Cataline . While some scholars support the whimsey of Caesar defend Cataline in different ways , they do not believe it extend to serve the confederacy .

A show inspired by the aesthetic of ancient Rome in Megalopolis

Image via Caesar Film LLC

How Megalopolis Copies The Catilinarian Conspiracy’s Events

Several Major Events Are Similar

Francis Ford Coppola has not specifically cite the existent Catilinarian Conspiracy as an inspiration forMegalopolis , but the similarities are many and clear . The movie is ultimately about a battle for power in New Rome and various political party contend for leaders positions . Cicero is once again the principal loss leader in the story who is appear at as someone who should be overthrown , just as he was in the Catalinarian Conspiracy . Meanwhile , it is Cesar Catilina who primarily opposes Ciceroand wants to swan his eyeshot for the world on the entire population .

Megalopolis Character

Real - Life Inspiration

Marlon Brando as Mark Antony in Julius Caesar

Cesar Catilina

Lucius Sergius Catilina / Julius Caesar

Franklyn Cicero

Cesar Catilina (Adam Driver) holding a T-square with a shattered glass wall in the background in Megalopolis (2024)

Image via Lionsgate

Marcus Tullius Cicero

Clodio Pulcher

Publius Clodius Pulcher

Headshot Of Adam Driver

Hamilton Crassus III

Marcus Licinius Crassus

Julia Cicero

Headshot Of Forest Whitaker

N / A

Wow atomic number 78

Fundi Romaine

Movies

Constance Crassus Catilina

Teresa Cicero

Clodia Pulcher

Megalopolis

The war of ideas between Cesar and Cicero is much less contentious inMegalopolisthan Cicero and Catiline ’s was in the conspiracy . Still , the film maintains a piece of their chronicle , as Cesar was charge of multiple crimes and Cicero play a key use in the final verdict . The master takeover in Coppola ’s movie instead comes through Wow atomic number 78 and Clodio Pulcherattempting to become the leader of Hamilton Crassus III ’s fortune and banks . That helps keep a rather fundamental ingredient in the confederacy ’s true floor as part of the narrative .

Megalopolis' Main Differences From The Catilinarian Conspiracy

SinceMegalopolisis only inspire by the events of the Catilinarian Conspiracy instead of a unmediated version of the historical consequence , there are a number of primal differences too . These expand well beyond the movie ’s obvious futuristic circumstance dispute . One of the heavy changes comes down to Cesar Catilina ’s lot . While the real Cataline die due to his opposition to Cicero , Cesar lives through the end ofMegalopolis . Not only does he get ahead , but he in effect wins the " state of war " with Cicero as Megalopolis open to the public and the feud is put apart so their families can live in harmony together .

Another notable change is the role of the assassination attempt . Megalopolismakes Cesar the one who is nearly vote down through an assassinationinstead of Cicero . Cesar is shot at close range by a young kid in the third act , and he is only saved thanks to the rarified power of Megalon . There is never an attack made on Cicero ’s living in the movie . what is more , it is Clodio ’s faction that is behind the blackwash attempt on Cesar .

SinceMegalopolis ' ending differs from the real Catilinarian Conspiracy regarding who succeed and lose , its no surprisal that many character fates and purpose differ from their actual - life counterpart beyond Cesar . Plodio ’s supporters ferment against him in the terminal and hang him upside down while he is still alive , potentially ensue in his eventual death despite Plodius surviving the conspiracy . Hamilton Crassus III ’s turn to help Cesar fund Megalopolis is also notably differentthan being the one who helped expose the coup d’etat attack . what is more , Julia play a major use inMegalopolisdespite Catalina ’s married woman or Cicero ’s daughter having no far-famed involvement .

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