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Francis Ford Coppola has been hospitalized in Italy.

The “Godfather” director, 86, was in the country to present his latest movie, “Megalopolis,” at the Magna Grecia Festival in Taranto when he was taken to the hospital for a scheduled procedure, The Post confirmed.


  Francis Ford Coppola during Paris fashion week on June 24, 2025. WireImage Francis Ford Coppola during Paris fashion week on June 24, 2025. WireImage

  Francis Ford Coppola at the Chicago Theatre on July 25, 2025. Timothy Hiatt/Shutterstock Francis Ford Coppola at the Chicago Theatre on July 25, 2025. Timothy Hiatt/Shutterstock

According to The Mirror, the procedure was heart surgery, with the outlet reporting he experienced a “mild cardiac arrhythmia” before it began and was placed under observation.

Meanwhile, sources close to the director tell The Post: “Mr. Coppola went in for a scheduled update procedure with acclaimed Dr. Andrea Natale, his doctor of over 30 years, and is resting nicely. All is well and he appreciates everyone’s concern.”

Before his hospitalization, the “Apocalypse Now” director was said to be in Italy to scout locations for his new film, which he reportedly plans to begin shooting this fall.


  The “Godfather” director during Paris fashion week on June 24, 2025. Getty Images The “Godfather” director during Paris fashion week on June 24, 2025. Getty Images

He was then greeted as a special guest during the Magna Graecia Film Festival, which kicked off July 26 and wrapped up Aug. 2, and provided the crowd with an impassioned speech about the future.

“Young people tell me the world is a mess, but I tell them there’s no problem that humanity can’t solve,” Coppola began. “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,” he added before presenting “Megalopolis,” which Coppola reportedly financed using $120 million of his own money.


  Francis Ford Coppola during a screening of “Megalopolis” at the Chicago Theatre on July 25, 2025. Timothy Hiatt/Shutterstock Francis Ford Coppola during a screening of “Megalopolis” at the Chicago Theatre on July 25, 2025. Timothy Hiatt/Shutterstock

The controversial film stars Adam Driver, Aubrey Plaza, Shia LaBeouf and Giancarlo Esposito, and it was dubbed a “zero-star, wacko disaster” by critics upon its release last year.

Besides self-funding the passion project, Coppola also took four decades to bring “Megalopolis” to fruition. It raked in less than $15 million worldwide.

“You get more out of it every time you see it,” Coppola said during a Q&A ahead of its premiere. “People love it and people hate it — it’s the best reaction.”


  Francis Ford Coppola and his wife, Eleanor, during the 59th International Cannes Film Festival on May 24, 2006, in Cannes, France. Getty Images Francis Ford Coppola and his wife, Eleanor, during the 59th International Cannes Film Festival on May 24, 2006, in Cannes, France. Getty Images

  Francis Ford Coppola and his daughter, director Sofia Coppola, during the 76th annual Academy Awards at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel on Feb. 29, 2004, in Hollywood, Calif. Getty Images Francis Ford Coppola and his daughter, director Sofia Coppola, during the 76th annual Academy Awards at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel on Feb. 29, 2004, in Hollywood, Calif. Getty Images

Still, the “Rainmaker” director wasn’t concerned about the movie’s mixed reviews, and he opened up about his “attitude for death” during another “Megalopolis” screening at San Francisco’s Palace of Fine Arts earlier this month.

“I lost my wife a year ago, around this time,” he shared. “But my attitude for death is that I always lived my life so that when I was at the moment approaching death, I wouldn’t say, ‘Oh, I wish I had done this and I wish I had done that.’ Instead, I say to myself, ‘I got to do this.’”

“I got to see my daughter win an Oscar. I got to see my father win an Oscar,” Coppola continued. “I’m going to be so busy saying all the things I got to do that when I die, I’m not going to notice it. When I die, I’m not going to notice it.”

“You know how your electric toothbrush just shuts off when you least expect it?” he concluded. “That’s what death is like.”

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