While it’s one of the all-time great American films, had Francis Ford Coppola not fought Paramount every step of the way, “The Godfather” would’ve been a very different movie. As the filmmaker recently recounted, the studio disagreed with him on almost every decision, from the setting of the film (they wanted something more contemporary to keep the budget down) to casting Marlon Brando (execs had a string of demands before they’d agree to signing the actor). And really, that’s just the tip of the iceberg, and the experience was so brutal that Coppola initially turned down directing the followup, even with all the success that greeted “The Godfather.” If it all sounds like the kind of behind-the-scenes drama that would make for a good movie, well, you’re in luck.
HBO is developing “Francis & the Godfather,” based on the 2015 Black List script by Andrew Farotte. The comedy will go into the madness involved in the making of the gangster classic. Here’s the synopsis:
Facing financial ruin, auteur filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola is forced to direct the adaptation of Mario Puzo’s pulp novel The Godfather, pitting him against legendary mega-producer Robert Evans in this comedy about art versus commerce.
Sounds like it could be a lot of fun if they get the tone right, but there are still a lot of moving parts to nail down including a director and cast. [Variety]