Legendary film director Francis Ford Coppola, 86, hospitalized in Italy: report

Director Francis Ford Coppola was reportedly hospitalized after experiencing an irregular heartbeat in Italy Tuesday.

The “Godfather” director, 86, allegedly suffered from a mild cardiac arrhythmia and was put under observation, the Mirror reported.

He reportedly went to the hospital for a pre-scheduled heart surgery, but after arriving medical professionals uncovered his condition.

Reps for Coppola weren’t immediately available to Page Six for comment.

The legendary filmmaker was in Italy for a screening of his 2024 sci-fi drama film, “Megalopolis,” at the Magna Graecia Film Festival, according to Ansa.

Speaking to a crowd, he reportedly told them, “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,” Coppola added.

The outlet reported that the legendary filmmaker was abroad looking for locations to shoot an upcoming film.

Ahead of arriving in Italy, the “Conversation” producer was at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco on Aug. 1 for another screening of “Megalopolis.”

The movie, starring Aubrey Plaza and Adam Driver, received extensive backlash, with Deadline previously referring to it as “something of a mess.”

However, the film, which Coppola spent $120 million of his personal funds on, earned him a 10-minute standing ovation at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.

“I don’t care, I never cared about money,” he said at the time. “In the end there are so many people when they die that say, ‘I wish I had done this, I wish I had done that.’”

“But when I die I’m gonna say ‘I got to do this. I got to see my daughter [Sofia] win an Oscar, and I got to make wine, and I got to make all the movies I wanted to make. And I’m going to be so busy thinking about what I got to do that when I die I won’t notice it,” Coppola added.

While filming the movie, Coppola was accused of unprofessional behavior on set, including kissing topless extras, which he denied.

However, he admitted to kissing one on the cheek.

Coppola was married to Eleanor Jessie Coppola from 1963 until she died in 2024. They shared three kids: Roman Coppola, 60, Sofia Coppola, 54, and Gian-Carlo Coppola, who died in 1986 at the age of 22.