Al Pacino has opened up about the precarious moments during the making of The Godfather, revealing that he was almost ousted from the iconic role of Michael Corleone by Paramount Studios. In an excerpt from his new memoir, Sonny Boy, the 84-year-old actor shared insights into the studio’s initial resistance to his casting and how one pivotal scene ultimately secured his place in Francis Ford Coppola’s acclaimed mafia drama.
“Paramount didn’t want me to play Michael Corleone,” Pacino recounted. “They wanted Jack Nicholson, Robert Redford, Warren Beatty, or Ryan O’Neal.” However, he noted that Coppola was steadfast in his support. “Francis wanted me. He wanted me, and I knew that,” Pacino stated, adding that this affirmation from the director was invaluable to him.
After a week and a half of filming, the studio once again questioned Pacino’s suitability for the role. In response, Coppola decided to expedite the shooting of the Italian restaurant scene, which was not originally scheduled for immediate filming. Pacino reflected on Coppola’s decision, stating, “If something hadn’t happened to let me show what I was capable of, there might not have been a future for me.”
Once the scene was shown to the studio, the reaction changed. “Because of that scene I just performed, they kept me in the film. So I didn’t get fired from The Godfather,” Pacino revealed. His performance in that crucial moment ultimately convinced the studio of his talent and fit for the character, solidifying his legacy in the 1972 classic.