We all know Oscar-winning actor Al Pacino, known for his many roles, including that of Michael Corleone in The Godfather. Now, when you see the movie, it would be hard to imagine another actor portraying the character. But you’d be surprised to know that he wasn’t the first choice to play the role of the youngest son of The Godfather.
During an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Diane Keaton said no one wanted Al Pacino to play Michael Corleone. She said he was kicked out after his first audition for the role because no one wanted to see him in the film. Diane Keaton starred as Kay Adams-Corleone, wife of Michael Corleone in The Godfather. She says, “Nobody wanted Al Pacino. They didn’t want him to play that role, and I had already been cast.
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Al Pacino as Michael Corleone
Considering the film and the actor received accolades for the story and the work done, it would be hard to imagine that Al Pacino wasn’t the first choice for the role. The character development portrayed by Al Pacino cannot be underestimated. Michael, who wanted to be a war hero instead of joining and running his family business, eventually takes it over and becomes mob boss Michael Corleone.
However, this isn’t the first time Diane Keate has spoken about it. The actress has mentioned it several times in the past. During her appearance on The Graham Norton Show in 2017, she said the same when talking about the movie.
Al Pacino on The Grandfather Cast
Not only that, Al Pacino himself said during an interview with USA Today that nobody wanted him in the movie. But the film’s director, Francis Ford Coppola insisted that he play the role.
During his interview, he said that earlier Coppola saw him in a play and wanted him to act in one of his movies, about a college professor. The two spent a week together working on the film, which was ultimately canceled. A year later, the director called him and told him he was directing The Godfather.
Al Pacino says: “It was shocking.” Hearing this, he says he thought Paramount was really smart about picking the right guy to make a great movie like The Godfather.
Francis Ford Coppola cast Pacino for the role
He further says that after that, Coppola asks him to play the role of Michael Corleone in the movie. Al Pacino laughingly said, “It was a run down after that because no one else wanted me. Paramount didn’t want me.
Later in the same interview, Pacino says it was a great struggle. He also said that Coppola believed in him and knew he made the right choice giving him the character saying, “When a director is interested in you for a part, that means something.”
When asked who he thinks would be better for Michael Corleone than himself, he said, pretty much anyone else. He also talked about how the role of Michael was too difficult and he wanted to play the role of Sonny Corleone, but he’s glad he did the role he was offered.
The Godfather franchise becomes one of the most successful films
Many even believe that aside from Marlon Brando as Vito Corleone and Robert De Nero as young Vito, Pacino was one of the most important actors in the cast and led the franchise to success.
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The actor also received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Even after facing huge criticism, Al Pacino never stopped becoming the man he is today. He is considered one of the most important actors in the history of cinema.
just like The GodfatherPacino has also been criticized for his role as Tony Montana in scarface. The film has become one of the greatest cult classic films of all time. But no one knows if the role went to someone else, would the movie have been the same??
Source: GFR
