Francis Ford Coppola shares update after health issue hospitalised Godfather director
Francis Ford Coppola has issued a health update after concerning reports he had been hospitalised in Italy. It was suggested in local media that the iconic director of the Godfather film, 86, had been rushed to hospital unexpectedly in the Italian city on August 5.
The apparent scare came as he was in the country for the Magna Grecia Festival in Calabria to present his controversial movie, Megalopolis, which stars Adam Driver, Aubrey Plaza, Shia LaBeouf, and Giancarlo Esposito.
However, he took to social media to clear up the situation and insisted he is "well". Taking to Instagram, the five-time Oscar winner clarified: "Da Dada (what my kids call me) is fine, taking an opportunity while in Rome to do the update of my 30 year old afib procedure with its inventor, a great Italian doctor - Dr. Andrea Natale! I am well!"
READ MORE: Aquaman star Jason Momoa admits he gave up smoking after near-death experience
He shared the update alongside an image of himself grinning. And his followers were thrilled with his announcement.
Among those sharing their delight was actress Sharon Stone. She wrote: "We love you honey," along with an emoji with love heart eyes.
Another user penned: "I'm glad you're doing ok. It's bad enough we lost David Lynch this year. We can't afford to lose another brilliant filmmaker in the same year." They added emojis of praying hands and a bandaged heart on their comment.
The update comes after the director recently addressed a crowd at the film festival in Italy. He spent a lot of the summer in Italy scouting locations for his new film, which is said to start filming this autumn, as reported by ANSA.
He told the crowd: "Young people tell me the world is a mess, but I tell them there's no problem that humanity can't solve. 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."
The legendary director has long had close ties to the country thanks to his grandfather, Agostino, who emigrated from Bernalda in the early 1900s. In 1989, Francis became an honorary citizen of the town.
Francis' huge film Megalopolis released earlier this year to mixed reviews. The decades-in-the-making project stars Adam Driver as a rich and tortured visionary trying to build a utopian city while rowing with a conservative mayor. It's said the film cost a huge $120million but only grossed just over $14million across the globe.
However, the figures didn't appear to bother the icon. He said: "I lost my wife a year ago, around this time. 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. 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? That's what death is like.'
As well as his work on The Godfather, Francis is also known for The Cotton Club, Peggy Sue Got Married, Bram Stoker's Dracula, The Outsiders and The Rainmaker.
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The National
3 hours ago
- The National
Mel Gibson shows interest in Scottish producer's historic film
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Times
3 hours ago
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Catherine Zeta-Jones: ‘This is a new chapter'
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Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Renee Zellweger cuts a quirky figure in a flat cap and shades at Edinburgh Film Festival following revelation she is living apart from boyfriend Ant Anstead amid his money troubles
Renee Zellweger cut a quirky figure as she stepped out during the annual Edinburgh Film Festival in Scotland on Saturday. The two time Oscar winner, 56, wore a flat cap and dark hades while paying a nod to her host country with a plaid scarf. Zellweger wrapped up warm in a black coat which she teamed with jeans and appeared in high spirits while posing for selfies outside a screening. It comes following learned that the actress and her British TV host boyfriend Ant Anstead had been living apart for the past year. The couple, who began dating in 2021, have not been seen together in public since early March when they were snapped supporting Anstead's young son at a soccer game. Known for his roles in TV shows Wheeler Dealers and Born Mechanic, has instead been spotted staying overnight at the Laguna Beach home of a glamorous California divorcée while Zellweger has been in New York filming for a TV show. Anstead, 46, is now facing bankruptcy for his car company, a raft of lawsuits demanding over $3million, and has been selling off his assets. In recent years he owned a multi-million-dollar house in the exclusive town of Laguna Beach, California, and was pictured in 2022 moving in with Zellweger in her $30,000-per-month clifftop home across the street. But for the past year he had downgraded to a modest, 832sqft, two-bed rental listed at $4,250 per month. Anstead's spokeswoman told the small house he left over a month ago 'was rented solely by Mr. Anstead'. His landlord confirmed Zellweger was not on the lease. The Bridget Jones's Diary star has been in New York City filming a new season of popular Hulu show, Only Murders in the Building, while Anstead was believed to be spending time in the UK, in recent weeks before returning to Laguna. His rep told he 'continues to remain private about his cherished personal relationship.' Zellweger's rep declined to comment. Meanwhile, a source close to the Bridget Jones star told they are still dating, despite living apart. But last week, Anstead was spotted staying overnight at a separate unit at the home of wealthy 36-year-old Laguna woman Julia French – who goes by 'Jules'. Jules, who has worked as a certified spin instructor at Rhythm Ride Laguna Beach according to her Facebook page, is currently divorcing her hedge fund founder husband, James Hanna III, the father of her two young children. A keen-eyed observer told that in recent months Anstead was even spotted meeting Jules on the beach for a sunset rendezvous, a romantic setting in the sought-after Southern California coastal town. However, the pair have never been seen engaging in any non-platonic behaviour. A source close to Anstead claimed he had been staying in the apartment on the property since he moved out of his modest rented house around April. 'One of her kids goes to the same school as Hudson. When Ant's working late or needs childcare, Hudson goes back with Jules' kids. Then in the evening Ant picks Hudson up,' the source said. 'But they've had this flirtatious friendship going on,' the insider added. 'So when he moved out of [his two-bed rental], he moved into the apartment above the garage at Jules' place. 'He's trying to find another rental place. But for now, he's got stuff in storage and he's got a lot of stuff with Jules.' The French family are well-known in Laguna and own several properties around the elite seaside town. Her beachfront, five-bed home is worth an estimated $8million according to real estate site Redfin, and has a separate two-bed unit.
