While it’s hard to imagine anyone but Al Pacino in the role of Michael Corleone, the veteran actor wasn’t the first choice for the lead in The Godfather. With barely one film to his credit, Pacino was nowhere near to his competitors when it came to auditions and casting. However, the actor was miraculously offered the role after his screen tests.
According to reports, Martin Sheen and Robert De Niro were initially screen-tested for the lead role. However, Francis Ford Coppola couldn’t picture anyone but Al Pacino’s face when he imagined a scene from the movie. But ultimately it was George Lucas’ wife Marcia who played the main role in signing Pacino.
Al Pacino Wasn’t The First Choice For The Godfather
When The Godfather was still a vision for director Francis Ford Coppola and producer Albert S. Ruddy in 1971, Al Pacino was a well-known and respected actor on Broadway. However, unlike most of his competitors, the veteran actor lacked experience, since he only had one movie, The Panic In Needle Park, under his belt.
Thus, it was unexpected for Al Pacino to bag the leading role in the cult classic, The Godfather (1972). Evidently, he wasn’t the initial choice for the role, as Martin Sheen and Robert De Niro were already in the queue with their decorated resume and work experience.
Paramount Pictures was aware that the role would be a launching pad for a young talent, thus they wanted no mistake in casting the lead. This enforced immense pressure on the director Francis Ford Coppola, who was pretty much the only one looking for Al Pacino to lead the movie.
However, with no one on his side, and immense responsibility on his shoulders, even Coppola began shifting his vision from Pacino to other actors.
The Miraculous Casting Of Al Pacino In The Godfather
Robert Evans, Paramount Pictures’ head of production back then, openly hated the idea of Al Pacino playing the lead role of Michael Corleone in their next blockbuster The Godfather. Therefore, with Paramount Pictures levying such a responsibility on Francis Ford Coppola while having a downvote from Evans for Pacino, it was rather difficult for the filmmaker to cast the veteran in the leading role.
The Godfather director was thus looking for someone to be on his side. As for him, there was no one else better than the quiet and intense Al Pacino, who could ever embody Michael Corleone in The Godfather. Although Pacino’s screen test sessions were less than stellar, Coppola was hellbent on casting him as the lead.
Ultimately, Francis Ford Coppola was successful in signing Al Pacino for the role, which proved to be one of the greatest castings in movie history. But, it was George Lucas’ wife Marcia, who was to be credited for the miracle to happen. Apparently, while editing the actor’s screen tests, Lucas’ wife told Coppola, “He [Al Pacino] undresses you with his eyes.”
Her words stuck with the director, and he couldn’t agree more. Thus, he eventually wore down Robert Evans and cast Pacino as Michael Corleone.
Watch The Godfather on Netflix.
Source: TIME
