Oscar Isaac, Jake Gyllenhaal to star in ‘Francis and The Godfather,’ about making of mob movie classic
There’s much more of “The Godfather” underway.
A film chronicling the behind-the-scenes of the making of the landmark 1972 movie has found its leading men.
Oscar Isaac and Jake Gyllenhaal have signed on to play director Francis Ford Coppola and former Paramount Pictures executive Robert Evans in the upcoming indie drama “Francis and The Godfather,” Deadline reports.
Legendary director Barry Levinson has been tapped to helm the project, originally written by television producer Andrew Farotte.
“Out of the madness of production, and against all odds, a classic film happened,” Levinson said.
According to Hollywood lore, the making of “The Godfather” was chaotic, mostly due to the epic behind-the-scenes battles between Coppola and the studio on everything from shooting locations to casting.
Production of a period movie in New York City was expensive to film, and Marlon Brando portraying patriarch Don Corleone was a major gamble as he hadn’t been in a hit project for years.
Adding to the tension was the fact that Paramount Pictures was in desperate need for a hit film and real members of the organized crime underworld wasn’t thrilled to see Mario Puzo’s bestselling novel brought to life on the big screen.
At the time, Coppola was a 31-year-old Academy Award-winning filmmaker who was taking the old guard of Hollywood by storm. With three acclaimed movies already under his belt, including “Patton” and “The Rain People,” the Hofstra University-educated Detroit native had his own vision for the movie, which turned out to be a three-hour epic. He also didn’t like to compromise.
“The Godfather” went on to win Best Picture, Best Actor for Brando and Best Adapted Screenplay.
Coppola himself has reportedly given his approval to both the project and the casting.
He said: “Any movie that Barry Levinson makes about anything, will be interesting and worthwhile!”
The legendary filmmaker – who went on to helm more classics, including “Apocalypse Now” and “The Cotton Club” – is currently working on a new cut of “The Godfather Part III.”
Known for his role as Poe Dameron in “Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens” and “Star Wars: Episode VIII The Last Jedi,” Isaac garnered a Golden Globe Award nomination for the 2013 “Inside Llewyn Davis” and went on to star in the science fiction thriller “Ex Machina.”
With his courageous performance in Ang Lee’s groundbreaking 2005 romantic drama “Brokeback Mountain,” Gyllenhaal has become a household name. “Zodiac,” “Nightcrawler” and “Spider-Man: Far from Home” are among his credits.
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