The Godfather poster
The Godfather

Casting What-Ifs

The Godfather The Rewatchables

Lancaster, Brando, Scott, Beatty, Nicholson, O’Neal, Redford, Hoffman, Sheen, Caan, De Niro, and Stallone figure in casting history.

In the discussion (14)
Approx. transcript time · 01:08:24Read transcript
  • Burt Lancaster and Laurence Olivier were considered for Vito Corleone.
  • Marlon Brando’s contested casting and screen test are recounted.
  • George C. Scott is discussed as a possible Vito.
  • Mia Farrow auditioned for Kay.
  • Warren Beatty was considered for Michael and around directing.
  • Jack Nicholson was considered for Michael.
  • Ryan O’Neal was Robert Evans’s preferred Michael.
  • Robert Redford was considered for Michael.
  • Dustin Hoffman auditioned.
  • Martin Sheen auditioned.
  • James Caan tested for Michael and Tom before moving to Sonny.
  • Carmine Caridi was originally slated for Sonny.
  • Robert De Niro left the Paulie role for The Gang That Couldn’t Shoot Straight.
  • Sylvester Stallone unsuccessfully auditioned for Paulie and Carlo.