Paramount+ has found its Godfather architect as Dan Fogler (Fantastic Beasts) is set to play Francis Ford Coppola in the limited series about the making of Coppola’s acclaimed and groundbreaking 1972 film The Godfather. Also joining the cast are Giovanni Ribisi (Sneaky Pete) and Colin Hanks (Life in Pieces).
The trio join a cast that includes Miles Teller (Top Gun: Maverick) as Godfather and Oscar-winning producer Albert S. Ruddy and Matthew Goode (Downton Abbey) as studio executive and producer Robert Evans. The Offer will be based on “the never-before-seen experiences of Oscar and Golden Globe-winning producer Albert S. Ruddy” in his journey to get The Godfather made.
Ribisi will play crime boss Joe Colombo, who organized the Italian-American Civil Rights League and was the head of one of the Five Families of America’s mafia. He initially opposed the making of The Godfather until Ruddy met him and received his approval.
Hanks will play Barry Lapidus, “a Gulf & Western executive with a lot of power over Paramount Pictures.”
Despite being one of the most critically acclaimed films of all time, The Godfather had a very dramatic behind the scenes story as the studio thought Coppola was too inexperienced to make a film of this scale, arguments were made over the casting, production delays and more. Godfather star Marlon Brando, who would go on to win an Academy Award for his portrayal of family patriarch and mob boss Vito Corleone, even threatened to quit the film should Coppola be fired. Nearly 50 years since its release, The Godfather is still as as renowned as it was then.
The 10-episode series was created by Oscar and Emmy nominee Michael Tolkin, who executive produces and has co-written the series with Nikki Toscano. Toscano will also serve as showrunner. Teller and Ruddy also will serve as executive producers on the series alongside Leslie Grief with Dexter Fletcher (Rocketman) set to direct.
Funny enough, a film is currently being made about the tumultuous events behind the making of The Godfather from director Barry Levinson. Where The Offer will be told from Ruddy’s perspective, Francis and The Godfather will be from Coppola’s with Oscar Isaac (Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker) playing Coppola, Elisabeth Moss (The Handmaid’s Tale) playing his wife Eleanor and Jake Gyllenhaal (Spider-Man: Far From Home) playing Robert Evans.
Ricky Church – Follow me on Twitter for more movie news and nerd talk.