Fans of the iconic film The Godfather are just now discovering that a Hollywood hero was once in contention for the lead role before it was given to Marlon Brando.
While Brando’s portrayal of Don Corleone is hailed as one of cinema’s finest moments, two other prominent stars were also considered for the same part.
One of these actors was even producers’ initial preference. Despite not securing the coveted role, there was fierce competition from two Oscar-winning actors before Brando was selected.
A discussion on the r/Godfather subreddit saw film enthusiasts mull over the potential alternative casting choices.
One user asked: “What if Laurence Olivier or Orson Welles were cast in The Godfather? Apparently, If Coppola couldn’t get Brando for the part, Laurence Olivier was his second choice for the role.”
While it remains contested whether Welles was truly approached for The Godfather, an offer was extended to Olivier, the Tony award-winning actor who would later star in Sleuth alongside Michael Caine instead of the gangster epic.
Coppola stated: “You can’t find someone new to play a 65-year-old man, but I came down to thinking, we need one of the true greatest actors in the world. Who are the two greatest actors in the world?
“One is Laurence Olivier, and one is Marlon Brando. Laurence Olivier was the right age and looked a lot like a Mafia leader, but he was English.”
He continued: “The other was Marlon Brando, who was not really that old, he was 47, and he was also not Italian.
“But Laurence Olivier just turned us down, he was not well. So that left Marlon Brando. I, of course, was just enamoured, I thought he could do anything.”
Film enthusiasts have lauded the eventual casting decision, but still speculate about the nuances Olivier might have brought to the iconic role.
A Reddit user asked: “I don’t think Olivier could pull off the tough undertones that Brando did. I really can’t picture it. Brando portrayed him as always in thought and very weary. It wouldn’t have been as good.”
Others have chimed in, hypothesising that Orson Welles, though less commercially viable, would have brought a unique dynamic to the film, as well as a lasting impact on Coppola’s subsequent projects.
Coppola’s persistence in the face of studio scepticism about casting Brando and Al Pacino ultimately paid off. Historian Mark Seal, who penned a book about the making of The Godfather, shares that a multitude of actors auditioned for the roles now indelibly linked with Brando and Pacino.
He recounts: “Martin Sheen was considered. Frank Langella. Nobody wanted Al Pacino, except for Coppola. Coppola said every time he thought about those scenes in Sicily, he saw the face of Al Pacino flash before his mind.”
At the time, Pacino was a relatively unknown actor with only two film credits under his belt. He had roles in Me, Natalie and The Panic in Needle Park prior to securing the iconic role of Michael Corleone in The Godfather.