Sofia Coppola, évincée de sa série Apple TV+ à cause d’une protagoniste “antipathique” – The Hollywood Reporter

Before Sofia Coppola embarked on her latest project, the biopic Priscilla focused on the life of Priscilla Presley, she initially had another major venture in mind that unfortunately didn’t come to fruition.

The Lost Project

Coppola had planned to adapt Edith Wharton’s 1913 novel, The Custom of the Country, into a five-hour limited series for Apple TV+. However, the streaming platform ultimately decided against it.

In a recent interview with The New York Times, Coppola revealed that while Apple is known for investing in prestigious projects, the executives were not fond of the lead character, social climber Undine Spragg. As a result, they reduced their financial support for the series.

“The idea of an unlikable woman wasn’t their thing,” Coppola stated. “But that’s just the story of who has the control.”

The Custom of the Country

The Custom of the Country follows the story of Undine, a young woman with aspirations for higher social standing. She persuades her wealthy parents to leave the Midwest and relocate to New York. Once in the city, she captures the attention of a young man from high society and eventually marries him. However, each subsequent relationship proves unsatisfactory due to her insatiable greed and ambition.

Apple TV+ was contacted by The Hollywood Reporter for a comment on the project’s cancellation.

The Shift to Priscilla

Following the setback, Coppola received a suggestion from a friend to explore new directorial opportunities. She revisited Priscilla’s biography, Elvis and Me, and immediately saw the potential for it to become her next film. Additionally, with Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis also in production at the time, Coppola recognized that the success of his film would generate even more interest in Priscilla’s story.

Coppola reached out to Priscilla, who was already a fan of her work, and requested the rights to her autobiography. After some persuasion, Priscilla agreed and joined the project as an executive producer. Cailee Spaeny and Jacob Elordi were cast in the lead roles.

Other Apple TV+ Projects

In addition to Priscilla, Apple TV+ has a lineup of exciting series, including upcoming shows like Lessons in Chemistry, The Morning Show, Physical, and High Desert.

Priscilla will be released in theaters on November 3.

Source : www.hollywoodreporter.com