Lionsgate Parts Ways With Eddie Egan After Fake AI-Generated Critic Quotes In Megalopolis Trailer; KNOW More

As a die-hard fan of Lionsgate and Francis Ford Coppola, I can’t help but feel a mix of disappointment and amusement at the recent debacle involving Eddie Egan and the Megalopolis trailer. Having spent decades immersed in the film industry myself, I know all too well that the business of movie-making is often fraught with twists and turns as unpredictable as a Tarantino script.


Following Eddie Egan’s significant blunder, Lionsgate, the marketing consultant for Megalopolis, has decided to sever their relationship with him. It was indeed Eddie who had crafted the trailer, but he included fabricated reviews from well-known film critics. These fake reviews were designed to criticize Francis Ford Coppola’s past work, however, it was later discovered that they were entirely untrue and fictitious.

On Wednesday, the studio swiftly removed the trailer from circulation. Criticisms of Coppola’s earlier films, as it turns out, were not found in genuine reviews but seem to have been produced by AI. For example, the trailer incorrectly claimed that Pauline Kael from The New Yorker had criticized The Godfather, when in reality, she was a fan of this film.

1. The company acknowledged that it was an oversight on their part. According to my sources, Egan apparently did not thoroughly check these remarks. It’s worth noting that Megalopolis, like his other work, stirred controversy and debate. However, this kind of problem arises due to the use of AI-generated statements.

Fogelson’s career has been marked by stints in various companies, such as STX Universal Pictures, where he spent two decades collaborating with different firms including Adam Fogelson and Lionsgate’s Film Group chair. His professional journey also includes tenures at Sony and STX. In 2019, after departing from STX, he transitioned into the role of an independent consultant.

Through a statement issued by Lionsgate, an apology was extended regarding the controversial incident. The company announced they were withdrawing the trailer and expressed regret for any offense caused to critics, Coppola, American Zoetrope, and their representatives. Both parties have chosen not to provide further comment on the matter at this time.

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2024-08-25 16:57