If anyone happens to see Robert Redford's performance in 'The Sting'...they can see that he definitely posessed the acting skills to portray Michael, at least in The Godfather. NOT as well as Pacino did, but he definitely could've carried it off.

Problem is there's no way that Redford would've fit the role in terms of appearance. They could've dyed his hair or tried anything they wanted, he just physically would not have fit in as one of the Corleone sons. The film might have been a failure based on this miscast alone!

Also, Redford could not have even come close to the coldhearted, chilling Michael that we had to see in GFII. In fact there probably would not have BEEN a GFII if Redford had been cast as Michael in the first one.

Apple