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Francis Ford Coppola Is Trying to Crowdfund an Apocalypse Now Video Game

Today, iconic American director Francis Ford Coppola announced his endorsement of a new crowdfunded video game based on 1979’s Apocalypse Now, the noted Vietnam War epic and one of the most culturally significant movies of the last century.

As Kotaku reports, sordid rumors have been circulating about a possible AN game since at least 2010. But it’s only now that 77-year old Coppola and his RPG-producing cohort have produced the receipts to prove this isn’t a joke–or at least, they’ve started up a Kickstarter page. Currently, the project to fund the self-described “immersive, psychedelic horror RPG” is hanging at under $20,000 of its $900,000 goal, and looking toward a prospective wide release in 2020 (just after the film’s 40th anniversary).

Here’s what Coppola has to say about the game, on which his company American Zoetrope is collaborating with video game industry vets (including a lead writer for Gears of War and the producer of Fallout: New Vegas):

“Forty years ago, I set out to make a personal art picture that could hopefully influence generations of viewers for years to come. Today, I’m joined by new daredevils, a team who want to make an interactive version of Apocalypse Now, where you are Captain Benjamin Willard amidst the harsh backdrop of the Vietnam War. I’ve been watching videogames grow into a meaningful way to tell stories, and I’m excited to explore the possibilities for Apocalypse Now for a new platform and a new generation.”

According to PR for the game, the player becomes Captain Willard (Martin Sheen’s character in the movie), and attempts to assassinate the renegade Colonel Kurtz (Marlon Brando’s character). Watch the campaign’s promotional video over at the Kickstarter page, and check out some stills from the game below.

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