Sofia Coppola’s Dream Collaboration: The Actor She’s Chasing

When Sofia Coppola made her on-screen debut in her dad’s film The Godfather: Part III, she copped a fair bit of flak for her performance. Critics didn’t hold back, and it seemed like her acting days were over before they’d even started. But Coppola wasn’t too fussed—she never really fancied herself as an actor anyway. Instead, she threw herself into other creative gigs, dabbling in modelling, photography, fashion, music videos, and even a stint on telly.

By the late ‘90s, Coppola had her hands on a copy of Jeffrey Eugenides’ The Virgin Suicides, thanks to Thurston Moore from Sonic Youth. She turned it into her first feature, bringing a sharp eye for detail and a knack for capturing both the heartbreak and the dreaminess of the Lisbon sisters’ world. The film struck a chord, especially with young women who saw their own struggles reflected in the story of the Lisbon girls, caught between strict rules and the prying eyes of the local lads. It was the start of a creative partnership with Kirsten Dunst, who would go on to star in several of Coppola’s films, including Marie Antoinette, The Bling Ring, and The Beguiled.

Building a Creative Circle

Over the years, Coppola’s built up a bit of a crew, often working with the same actors across different projects. Alongside Dunst, she’s teamed up with Elle Fanning and Bill Murray more than once. When she finds someone who just gets the unique mood of her films—where a bit of sadness is always mixed with a sense of longing—she tends to stick with them, sometimes even writing roles with those actors in mind.

But there’s one performer Coppola’s keen to work with who might surprise a few punters. In a chat with Emerald Fennell, she admitted,

“I’ve always wanted to work with Eddie Murphy,”

though she added,

“I don’t have the idea or the project.”

Seeing Beyond the Laughs

Murphy’s name is usually linked to comedies—sometimes the sort that have critics taking the mickey. From The Adventures of Pluto Nash to Norbit, he’s played all sorts, often in wild costumes or as completely different characters, all for a laugh. He kicked off with a bang on SNL and had a string of hits like Beverly Hills Cop, but by the ‘90s and 2000s, some questionable choices and a few box office duds didn’t do his reputation any favours.

Still, Murphy’s had his moments. He scored an Oscar nod for Dreamgirls in 2006 and has kept audiences entertained as Donkey in Shrek. It’s not hard to imagine him in a more serious role—something along the lines of Lost in Translation or Somewhere—because he’s shown he can handle drama when given the chance, like in Dreamgirls and Dolemite Is My Name.

What’s Next for Coppola?

Maybe what Murphy needs is a few more roles that show off his range, steering clear of the slapstick and giving him a shot at something with a bit more weight. Coppola’s got a knack for drawing out unexpected performances, so if she ever pens a part with Murphy in mind, it could be just the thing to shake up his career. For now, though, she’s keeping her cards close to her chest, and no one knows what she’ll do next.