Francis Ford Coppola Says the Claim He Was Inappropriate on “Megalopolis” Set Is ‘Totally Untrue’

Writer-director Coppola spoke out about reports of allegedly inappropriate behavior during the filming of his upcoming movie

Francis Ford Coppola is calling allegations regarding his behavior on the set of his new movie "totally untrue."

Coppola, 85, wrote, directed and produced Megalopolis, the Adam Driver-starring science fiction epic set to screen at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 9. When it first debuted at the Cannes Film Festival in May, reports emerged that the filmmaker’s “old school” approach included inappropriate interactions with women on set.

During filming, he “allegedly pulled women to sit on his lap,” according to The Guardian, and “came on to the set and tried to kiss some of the topless and scantily clad female extras.”

Related: The Coppola Family: All About the Film Dynasty Including Sofia Coppola and Nicolas Cage

The Oscar-winning Godfather director addressed the reports in an interview with Rolling Stone published Sunday, Aug. 25. In response to a question about whether he "kissed and touched extras in a way some people found inappropriate," he said, “You’re talking about the Guardian piece, which is totally untrue.”

Coppola continued, "The truth of the matter is, they were looking for some sort of dirt. The young women I kissed on the cheek, in regards to the New Year’s scene, they were young women I knew.”

He added that his detractors were "just trying to damage the picture" by releasing reports of his behavior just before the Cannes premiere: "It’s all so ridiculous. Look at the timing of that article."

A rep for Coppola directed PEOPLE to his Rolling Stone response when asked for comment.

In July, Variety published footage reportedly from the scene in question, in which Coppola seemingly kisses and dances with female extras while filming in a night club. An anonymous source told the outlet that he announced aloud his intention to kiss those in the scene. Background actress Rayna Menz, who appears in the footage, refuted the claims against Coppola in an Instagram message. She told Deadline, “He was nothing but professional, a gentleman, he was like this cute Italian grandfather, running around the set."

Asked about the allegations by the New York Times back in June, Coppola, seemingly denying them, said, “I’m not touchy-feely” and “I’m too shy.” He also responded by bringing up his late mother, Italia Coppola, who he said told him, “if you make an advance toward a woman, it means you disrespect her… the girls I had crushes on, I certainly didn’t disrespect them.”

A Roman history-inspired epic, Megalopolis tells the story of an idealist architect (Driver) and corrupt mayor (Giancarlo Esposito) battling for control of the future of a decaying city. It costars Nathalie Emmanuel, Aubrey Plaza, Laurence Fishburne, Jon Voight, Grace VanderWaal, Shia LaBeouf and Dustin Hoffman, plus Coppola’s sister Talia Shire and her son Jason Schwartzman.

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"The City of New Rome must change, causing conflict between Cesar Catilina, a genius artist who seeks to leap into a utopian, idealistic future, and his opposition, Mayor Franklyn Cicero, who remains committed to a regressive status quo, perpetuating greed, special interests, and partisan warfare," per an official synopsis. "Torn between them is socialite Julia Cicero, the mayor's daughter, whose love for Cesar has divided her loyalties, forcing her to discover what she truly believes humanity deserves."

Related: Trailer for Francis Ford Coppola's Megalopolis Removed by Studio Over Fake Movie Critic Quotes: 'We Screwed Up'

Speaking to Rolling Stone, Coppola also speculated as to why those behind the reports were attempting to "damage" Megalopolis. "There’s a prevailing tendency in Hollywood to say, if you follow our rules, you’ll have a better chance of a success," he said. "I’m trying to do something different here. Film is change. I mean, the movies that your grandchildren are going to make are going to be nothing like what we see now."

Megalopolis, from distributor Lionsgate, is in theaters Sept. 27.

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