It appears that AI was used to generate the false critics quotes in the “Megalopolis” trailer (via Variety). Eddie Egan, the Lionsgate marketing consultant who wrote and cut the trailer, has been fired by the studio.
Why would Egan risk his job by using AI —which can be notoriously unreliable — instead of just finding and pulling the quotes out himself? What an idiotic move on his part. It’s not like Egan is a rookie either, worked closely with Adam Fogelson, the chair of Lionsgate’s film group, for more than 20 years.
Lionsgate pulled the trailer on Wednesday after online sleuths pointed out that the quotes used trashing Coppola’s classics did not actually appear in the critics’ reviews and were totally fabricated. No newly edited trailer has appeared online since then.
It’s not like there’s time to wait it out for Coppola and company. “Megalopolis” is supposed to reach theaters four weeks from now. The marketing, which Coppola is paying out of his own pocket, has not been very noticeable. The best thing I can say is that at least “Megalopolis” received free press this entire week due to the fabricated quotes debacle. Coppola didn’t have to pay a cent for it.