Paramount’s original plan to get rid of Al Pacino meant an MCU star almost became Michael Corleone

Michael Corleone in The godfatherplayed by Al Pacino, is hailed as one of the greatest performances in world cinema. His memorable character transition in Francis Ford Coppola’s film is still talked about by fans worldwide. But interestingly, Al Pacino was never the original choice for the role. They had their eyes on another legendary performer, Robert Redford for the role.

The godfather presented a beautiful fusion of popular and lesser-known stars that seemed to have come straight out of Mario Puzo’s best-seller. However, the 1972 masterpiece had a very problematic production schedule due to an intense conflict between Paramount and Francis Ford Coppola. Paramount wanted it to be a more star-studded event with more famous stars.

Al Pacino almost lost his historic role in The godfather because of Paramount

From the excellent characters and unforgettable soundtrack to the handling of complex themes, several reasons made this possible The godfather to have such a huge impact on cinema. While Marlon Brando’s Vito Corleone is the film’s title character, Al Pacino’s Michael Corleone plays a major role in the story. His character journey is one of the film’s major highlights.

During production, Al Pacino was a newcomer with an impressive Tony Award for his stage performances, but with only one film to his credit. Paramount was determined to cast a familiar face like Robert Redford or Warren Beatty.

On the other hand, producer Robert Evans was convinced to take Ryan O’Neal for the role. Even Burt Reynolds and Jack Nicholson were offered the part. In an interview with The Guardian, Al Pacino openly admitted that if it wasn’t for Francis Ford Coppola’s support, he would never have gotten the part.

Michael Corleone in The Godfather was and still is the most difficult role I’ve ever played. I didn’t see him as a gangster; I felt his strength was his enigmatic quality. Unfortunately, the studio couldn’t see that at first and thought about firing me. It was in my early career, a big movie with Marlon Brando, and nobody wanted me for the part except Francis (Ford Coppola).

Despite the studio’s complaints about Pacino’s short stature, Coppola claimed he felt the Scar face actor who roamed the Sicilian countryside (via NPR ). Al Pacino gave such an impactful performance that it’s hard to imagine what MCU star Robert Redford would have looked like as the mob boss. Pacino also received an Academy Award nomination for his portrayal of Michael.

Al Pacino also told The New York Times (see Collider) that the role took his career to astronomical levels and gave him a new identity.

The godfatherThe casting was a complete mess in the beginning

In a popular article from Vanity Affair it was reported that the casting process of The godfather was “more volatile” than the on-screen war between the gangster families. In an effort to make it one of the most memorable film adaptations ever, Paramount Pictures thought about adding more star power to the film.

The director and the studio were at odds from the start, as Paramount Pictures was reluctant to cast Marlon Brando in the title role. His reputation as a difficult character to work with and a string of disappointing box office results nearly cut him short of his iconic performance. Before Coppola’s choice was finally approved, the makers wanted Carlo Ponti or Ernest Borgnine for the part.

The late James Caan, who played Sonny Corleone in the film, also played a crucial role in the casting of Al Pacino. Caan, a favorite of the filmmakers and a bigger star, was also cast as Michael Corleone for a while, with Carmine Caridi as Sonny. Although Coppola was strongly opposed to casting James Caan in the film, he reluctantly agreed because producer Robert Evans wanted to cast him as Sonny, so Pacino could finally be cast as Corleone’s younger brother.

Ultimately, there is no denying that Francis Ford Coppola’s casting choices made history. Everyone in the film was brilliant and found new popularity after The godfatherWhile it’s interesting to imagine what the classic would have looked like with a different cast, including Robert Redford, the 1972 masterpiece has had a lasting impact on film history.

The godfather can be streamed on Paramount+.