Francis Ford Coppola, the Oscar-winning director of The Godfather and Apocalypse Now, underwent a non-emergency medical procedure in Rome, his representative has confirmed. The representative denied earlier reports that the 86-year-old had suffered a mild cardiac arrhythmia.
“Mr Coppola went in for a scheduled update procedure with acclaimed Dr Andrea Natale, his doctor of over 30 years, and is resting nicely,” the representative said, adding “all is well.” Local media had reported that Coppola was admitted to Policlinico Tor Vergata on Tuesday morning for a heart-related operation, but the representative called those reports “not true.”
Coppola himself posted on Instagram: “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!”
The director is a frequent visitor to Italy and recently attended the Magna Graecia film festival in Calabria to present his latest film, Megalopolis. He had also been scouting locations for a new production due to begin filming in the autumn.
Coppola, who funded Megalopolis largely through the sale of his vineyards, said at the festival: “Young people say the world is a disaster, but I reply that there is no problem man can’t solve.” The film, starring Adam Driver, has received mixed reviews.
