Just days from his 80th birthday, Francis Ford Coppola is finally preparing to direct "Megalopolis," a passion project that has been in the works for over a decade.

According toDeadline, the legendary "Godfather" director will move forward this year with making the sprawling sci-fi epic, which he wrote in the early 1980s. But the film, which follows New York City in the aftermath of a major disaster, was put on hold after the September 11 attacks.

“So yes, I plan this year to begin my longstanding ambition to make a major work utilizing all I have learned during my long career, beginning at age 16 doing theater, and that will be an epic on a grand scale, which I’ve entitled 'Megalopolis,'” Coppola said.

“It is unusual; it will be a production on a grand scale with a large cast. It makes use of all of my years of trying films in different styles and types culminating in what I think is my own voice and aspiration. It is not within the mainstream of what is produced now, but I am intending and wishing and in fact encouraged, to begin production this year.”

Coppola is reportedly already eyeing actors for "Megalopolis," including Jude Law for the lead role. Many actors have been attached to the project over the years, including Robert De Niro, Warren Beatty, and Russell Crowe.

This would be Coppola's first feature directing job since 2011's "Twist."

The director also has a new cut of his seminal work "Apocalypse Now" which will debut at the Tribeca Film Festival this month.