“The Godfather” could have been an entirely different movie, as Al Pacino was almost removed from his legendary role as Michael Corleone!
This role ultimately earned Al an Academy Award nomination, making it astonishing to consider that the studio initially favored Ryan O’Neal, Robert Redford, or Warren Beatty for the part. Even after Francis Ford Coppola advocated for Pacino, the path to silence the critics was quite tumultuous.
Al reveals in his memoir “Sonny Boy” that just a week and a half into filming, Francis dropped the shocking news that Paramount wasn’t keen on him for the role.
Francis even presented him with clips of his performance, and Al admitted he wasn’t hitting the mark, though he confessed he was intentionally toning down Michael’s character to delve into his evolution and possibilities.
Fortunately, Francis remained supportive of Al, and he expedited the shooting of the famous restaurant scene to demonstrate to the Paramount executives what Al was truly capable of.
And what a payoff it turned out to be! Al gave his all in that scene, enduring a taxing 15-hour shoot as Michael unleashed fury on Al Lettieri and Sterling Hayden’s characters at close range.
He also mentioned that his co-stars served as a safety net for him, as they understood the immense pressure he felt — coupled with the looming possibility of being dismissed — and they worked hard to uplift his morale.