Francis Ford Coppola and Tom Cruise to reunite

Francis Ford Coppola believes in doing things the old-fashioned way. Martin Scorsese (front L) hugs Steven Spielberg in front of Francis Ford Coppola (L) and George Lucas (back R) after winning an Oscar for best director for 'The Departed' at the 79th Annual Academy Awards in Hollywood, February 25, 2007. REUTERS/Gary Hershorn

Martin Scorsese (front L) hugs Steven Spielberg in front of Francis Ford Coppola (L) and George Lucas (back R) after winning an Oscar for best director for 'The Departed' at the 79th Annual Academy Awards in Hollywood, February 25, 2007. REUTERS/Gary HershornOn Feb 22nd, he screened his first flic since 1997’s ‘Rainmaker,’ ‘Youth Without Youth’ for some of his friends in the San Franciso Bay area, including his pals Carroll Ballard (director ‘Fly Away Home’) and George Lucas. Over the weekend it was screened to individual distributors in LA. While there is initial interest in the film, one studio, the new United Artists helmed by Tom Cruise and Paula Wagner seems most interested.Ties between Coppola and Cruise go back to 1983 whne Coppola cast Crusie, then an unknown in ‘The Outsiders.’Coppola adapted, produced and directed "Youth Without Youth" from the 1976 novel by Romanian-born religious historian Mircea Eliade. Pic which cost $5 million, was financed through pre-sales to Pathe International and Coppola’s winery.Pic stars Tim Roth as a 70-year-old who is struck by lightning and suddenly gets younger and more brilliant. His quest: to understand the origin of language and consciousness. By movie's end, he and the love of his life (Alexandra Maria Lara) are literally speaking in tongues. Bruno Ganz also stars, and Matt Damon makes a cameo appearance.Coppola decided to skip the film festival circuit with his new film after the chilly reception his daughter Sofia received after screening ‘Marie Antoinette’ at Cannes last year.