Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Megalopolis!
Francis Ford Coppola’sMegalopolisis partially inspired by the Catilinarian Conspiracy, a real historical event from ancient Rome. The 2024 sci-fi epic is a passion project of the legendary director, who self-financed the movie to finally make it after decades of turmoil.Megalopolisexplores the desire ofCesar Catilina (Adam Driver)to build a utopia known as Megalopolis from what he views as the crumbling civilization of New Rome. His dream is met with plenty of opposition, 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 names of notable people in Roman history, clothing made similarly, or futuristic America taking on the New Rome name, the movie is heavily tied to Rome. One comparison that is not directly made in the movie is that betweenMegalopolis' endingand the Catilinarian Conspiracy. The true story of these events heavily inspired Coppola’s narrative.
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 politician attempted to overthrow the then-current leaders in power.The man who started the movement was Lucius Sergius Catilina, also known as Cataline. He spent the prior years attempting to secure a spot in the consulship but was repeatedly rejected, despite his close alignment with several of the figureheads. This led Cataline to devise a plot to overthrow the consulship, specifically targeting Marcus Tullius Cicero and Gaius Antonius Hybrida. Cataline recruited several former politicians to his cause early on.
Cataline’s plan for a coup that would end with him in power gained steam early on, and it was before the end of 63 BC that Cicero and his allies learned of his plans from letters given to them by Marcus Licinius Crassus. Thisled to an attempted assassination of Cicero in November 63 BC, and Cataline was forced to flee the city. Cicero’s power grew during this time, executing citizens without trial who were thought to be aligned with Cataline. He was able to do so thanks to the senate declaringsenatus consultum ultimum.
Senatus consultum ultimumis the Roman Senate’s decree giving support to leaders to use the full extent of their powers to protect the state at any cost
Cicero’s executions began the end of the Catalinarian Conspiracy. They led to a decrease in support for Cataline’s cause and a final battle between the opposing forces in early 62 BC.Cataline died in the battle, as Cicero’s co-consul Antonius led the Roman army to a victory. The end result initially brought Cicero plenty of praise for protecting the state, but all were not pleased with the lengths he went to do so. This even led to Publius Clodius Pulcher putting a law into effect that forced 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 character inMegalopolisis a clear stand-in for Cataline thanks to his last name, but changing his name to Cesar is also notable considering the history of Roman emperor Julius Caesar. Althoughthe most notable events in Caesar’s life happened after the Catalinarian Conspiracy was over, the event still played a role in his continued rise to power. At one point, Cicero and his consul asked members of the senate to weigh in on what should happen to a few prisoners. They all voted for the death penalty, except for then praetor-elect Julius Caesar.
Julius Caesar became Rome’s emperor in 49 BC, 13 years after the Catalinarian Conspiracy ended
Caesar proposed that the criminals should receive a life sentence in prison, which was illegal without first having a trial. Still, many other politicians initially liked the non-lethal punishment suggestion, which was viewed as more lenient than the death penalty. It was only after he shared his thoughts that Cato the Younger swayed the senate back in favor of the death penalty option. There was even a suggestion made by Cato that Caesar was working with Cataline. While some scholars support the notion of Caesar supporting Cataline in different ways, they do not believe it extended to helping the conspiracy.
How Megalopolis Copies The Catilinarian Conspiracy’s Events
Several Major Events Are Similar
Francis Ford Coppola has not specifically cited the real Catilinarian Conspiracy as an inspiration forMegalopolis, but the similarities are many and clear. The movie is ultimately about a struggle for power in New Rome and various parties vying for leadership positions. Cicero is once again the main leader in the story who is looked 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 assert his views for the world on the entire population.
Clodia Pulcher
The war of ideas between Cesar and Cicero is much less combative inMegalopolisthan Cicero and Catiline’s was in the conspiracy. Still, the film maintains a piece of their history, as Cesar was accused of multiple crimes and Cicero played a key role in the final verdict.The main coup in Coppola’s movie instead comes through Wow Platinum and Clodio Pulcherattempting to become the leader of Hamilton Crassus III’s fortune and banks. That helps keep a rather key ingredient in the conspiracy’s true story as part of the narrative.
Megalopolis' Main Differences From The Catilinarian Conspiracy
Francis Ford Coppola’s Movie Doesn’t Follow History Exactly
SinceMegalopolisis only inspired by the events of the Catilinarian Conspiracy instead of a direct adaptation of the historical event, there are a number of key differences too. These extend well beyond the movie’s obvious futuristic setting difference. One of the biggest changes comes down to Cesar Catilina’s fate. While the real Cataline died due to his opposition to Cicero,Cesar lives through the end ofMegalopolis. Not only does he win, but he effectively wins the “war” with Cicero as Megalopolis opens to the public and the feud is put aside 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 killed 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 rare abilities of Megalon. There is never an attempt made on Cicero’s life in the movie. Furthermore, it is Clodio’s faction that is behind the assassination attempt on Cesar.
SinceMegalopolis' ending differs from the real Catilinarian Conspiracy regarding who wins and loses, its no surprise that many character fates and roles differ from their real-life counterparts beyond Cesar. Plodio’s supporters turn against him in the end and hang him upside down while he is still alive, potentially resulting 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 attempt. Furthermore, Julia plays a major role inMegalopolisdespite Catalina’s wife or Cicero’s daughter having no notable involvement.
