Jack Nicholson - Micheal Corleone, The Godfather (1972) However, Nicholson turned down the role. He had, at the same time, received offers for The Last Detail and Chinatown, which he thought were more interesting projects.

Who turned down the role of Michael Corleone in The Godfather?

Jack Nicholson turned down the role of Michael Corleone because he believed that actors should stick to playing characters of their own ethnicity. While it is fun to imagine Jack Nicholson in the role, it is impossible to improve upon Al Pacino's perfect performance as Michael Corleone.

Who didn t want Al Pacino in Godfather?

"The studio didn't want Al Pacino at all," Keaton said, noting that she was cast before him in the Francis Ford Coppola classic. She then explained what caused the studio to change their opinion: their chemistry read.

Who was the first choice to play Michael in The Godfather?

According to Peter Cowie's 1997 publication The Godfather Book, Paramount initially targeted Warren Beatty and Robert Redford to star as Michael Corleone. By the early '70s, however, Beatty already had a loyal following after starring in the 1967 classic Bonnie and Clyde.

Who was considered to play Don Corleone?

Paramount Didn't Want Marlon Brando Cast in 'The Godfather'

The studio had a laundry list of potential Vito Corleones ranging from Laurence Olivier to Ernest Borgnine, but the audacious Coppola remained unwavering in his quest to secure the 47-year-old actor.

The Godfather: How Michael Corleone Evolves

Who was almost cast as Michael Corleone?

Warren Beatty was offered the chance to direct, produce, and star as Michael, but turned it down. Dustin Hoffman and Jack Nicholson also turned down the part. David Carradine and Martin Sheen auditioned for the role and Tommy Lee Jones was briefly considered.

Who was first choice to play Sonny Corleone?

According to studio executive Robert Evans in his 1994 memoir The Kid Stays in the Picture, Caridi was director Francis Ford Coppola's first choice for the role of Sonny Corleone, but Evans insisted on James Caan because Caridi was too tall to play opposite Al Pacino.

Who was supposed to play Michael?

Bob Odenkirk Auditioned For Michael Scott

In fact, Bob Odenkirk technically was cast as Michael Scott until Steve Carell — who was the producer's first choice — ended up becoming available. The NBC pilot Carell had been working on failed (thank goodness), so he was recast as the world's best boss.

Who turned down the role of Johnny Fontane?

The popular singer was originally cast as the Sinatra-esque Johnny Fontane. He dropped out, attributing his pride in being Italian, though he would later state that it was all about the money.

Who was supposed to play Michael Corleone's daughter?

During his conversation with the Times, Francis noted how the casting of his daughter came to be, when Winona Ryder – who was originally cast to play Mary — dropped out after she got sick once in Rome to film the final installment.

Did Pacino almost get fired from Godfather?

But despite being director Francis For Coppola's first choice to play Michael Corleone, there was a time, while shooting The Godfather, where Pacino almost got fired.

Did Frank Sinatra want to stop The Godfather movie?

The crooner publicly denied his connections to the Mafia to protect his public image, yet Sinatra did have social ties to organized crime, and The Offer depicts him leaning on Joe Columbo to put a stop to The Godfather movie's production.

Why was Sylvester Stallone not in The Godfather?

Sylvester Stallone missed out on background role in The Godfather because the studio wasn't sure he was the right 'type of guy'

How did Al Pacino get the role of Michael Corleone?

Francis Ford Coppola took notice of Pacino for his role in the 1971 film The Panic in Needle Park and cast him in The Godfather.

Who was originally casted Luca Brasi?

Lenny Montana(1926-1992)

Tall and solidly built, this Italian-American professional wrestler turned actor was born Lenny Passaforo in Brooklyn, New York, and is best remembered for his first on-screen role as the not too bright but ever loyal bodyguard Luca Brasi in.

Who ordered the killing of Michael Corleone in Godfather 3?

Mosca, the assassin hired by Don Altobello to kill Michael, descends upon the opera house during Anthony's performance, killing two of Vincent's men who delay his opportunity. The opera ends before he has the chance to kill Michael with his rifle.

Who was fired from The Godfather?

Albert S. Ruddy was briefly fired as The Godfather's producer but The Offer takes the real-life incident and makes it much more complex and dramatic.

What did Frank Sinatra think of Johnny Fontane?

At a chance encounter in 1972, Sinatra refused to look author Mario Puzo in the eyes or shake his hand, and derisively called him a “pimp” specifically for concocting the Fontane character in the novel.

Who turned down directing The Godfather?

For The Godfather, fortunate luck arrived in the form of Sergio Leone turning down the job to direct the film. On the surface, it is erroneous to be thankful for a film not to be directed by a master of the form in Leone. However, Francis Ford Coppola was evidently born to envision The Godfather on the big screen.

Who turned down Forrest Gump role?

Initially, the film was offered to Bill Murray, John Travolta, and Chevy Chase. All three of them turned down the role and eventually, our true Gump came on the board. And the rest is history!

Who ordered the hit on Michael?

The Godfather Part II

Roth secretly plans to assassinate Michael, partly to avenge Moe Greene's murder (as depicted in The Godfather). Roth instructs Ola to befriend Michael's brother Fredo, who provides Ola (and Roth) information about Michael that enables them to make an attempt on his life.

Which actor almost got the role of Indiana Jones?

Tom Selleck, now 78, is said to have been offered the role by creator George Lucas, now 79, and director Steven Spielberg, now 76, first after having screen tested for it.

Who was first choice for Vito Corleone?

3. Marlon Brando's performance in the title role is considered among the five most accomplished screen performances from anywhere in the world. Hard as it may be to believe, Brando was not the first choice to play Don Vito Corleone. The British legend Sir Laurence Olivier was the first actor to be offered the role.

Who put the hit on Sonny Corleone?

In the late summer of 1948, Sonny Corleone was lured into a trap and was killed at the Jones Beach Causeway by Barzini family hitmen in order to avenge Carlo. The hit was engineered by Emilio Barzini after Carlo, angered at the loss of his income and at the fact that Sonny had beaten him, helped set it up.