CS! reports...

Paramount will have first crack at screen rights to a new installment of Mario Puzo's The Godfather franchise that is in the planning stages at Random House, reports Variety.

"We hope Paramount or some other studio will want to buy the movie rights, and it is our intention to see that happen," Random House Trade Group vice president-senior editor Jonathan Karp told the trade. He was Puzo's editor when the author died, and Karp has spent the last several months tying down a rights deal with Puzo's estate to draft another writer to continue the Corleone saga.

Karp said that it was too early to know who would write the book, and a choice won't be made until a final selection of story outlines are accumulated Nov. 4. Karp added that the original was a classic, and the idea is not to compete with it, but rather to continue the story in an entertaining and artful way that will make his readers very happy.

Thanks Movie Fans,

Turi posted this topic as well in the GF section. I am sure we all hope this comes about. If you hear any more info, please let us know.

TIS

Godfather' resurrected
Karp looks to extend Puzo's Corleone legacy

Paramount will have first crack at screen rights to a new installment of Mario Puzo's "The Godfather" franchise that is in the planning stages at Random House.

Whether the studio considers that an offer it cannot refuse remains to be seen.

"We hope Paramount or some other studio will want to buy the movie rights, and it is our intention to see that happen," said Random House Trade Group vice president-senior editor Jonathan Karp. He was Puzo's editor when the author died, and Karp has spent the last several months tying down a rights deal with Puzo's estate to draft another writer to continue the Corleone saga. Puzo's estate controlled the literary rights to the characters created by the author.

Word of the book plans began leaking late last week when Karp emailed select lit agents canvassing for a top author to concoct a new tale. The information was published in the New Yorker. It is potentially the largest sequel deal made for a work of a deceased author since "Scarlett," the "Gone With the Wind" line extension that fetched $5 million. Karp would not comment on the deal Random House made with the Puzo estate, but acknowledged it was substantial. He was also braced for the inevitable skepticism on revisiting a book that was critically acclaimed and sold 22 million copies.

"These characters just keep pulling you back in," Karp said. "There is enormous continuing interest in the Corleone family, and a great opportunity to tell a story that could take place before, during or after the original book. Mario once told me he wished he had done more with Sonny Corleone's character, and there was certainly more opportunity to explore the singer Johnny Fontaine. And Michael Corleone did make an appearance at the beginning and end of 'The Sicilian,' because he had a relationship with the freedom fighter."

Karp said that it was too early to know who would write the book, and a choice won't be made until a final selection of story outlines are accumulated Nov. 4. He is aiming high, noting that even though a deal for Pat Conroy to scribble the "Gone With the Wind" sequel fell apart, Conroy had the pedigree of the writer he was hoping to hire. "We're looking for a connected author, in the best sense of the word."

Karp says the original was a classic, and the idea is not to compete with it, but rather to continue the story in an entertaining and artful way that will make his readers very happy."

[Source unknown]

No one thinks this is BIG NEWS?!?!?!?!

Geoff,

I do! I'm ecstatic! Please follow-up with us I am very interested. I am at work and can't check in as often, but I keep looking for others reactions. But I'm with you my "Don", (kiss-up ) "happy as a pig in shit." I want more info tho, but mostly I want confirmation that this is true. Is it????? I need to know if I can really get excited???

TIS

I am GASPPINGGG!!!! This is the biggest news since I heard concerning GF since 1989 when GF III went into production. Thanks to GEOFF and TURIO for keeping on top of this.

Michael is still the main character so I hope they don't stray from him.

I think this is big news, but I am still wondering what it will be...

will it be a sequel novel? or a novel based on what happened in the sequel movies (we all know there are some drastic differences between trilogy and novel)?

I still think that there must not come another movie. it would be only be true Godfather like with well casted people, and that means: no DeNiro, no Pacino and no Keaton etc. for they are too old to play their characters. Vincent is probably the only one who could return. and a GF movie without Pacino etc. isn't gonna work, at least not contribute to the movie saga...

What I thought would be a nice alternative, is to have the GF4 story packed in some "new media" kinda thing.

GF4 wouldn't be a screenplay, a movie, an opera or a novel (well, if they write the book, yes of course), but an interactive website. you can "live" the GF4 story on that site with some great original graphics and Godfather music etcetera, and off course new characters can be shown in pictures or something.. No, it wouldn't have the great acting or the great quotes, but that's what made the films so great, and like I said, another movie is very unlikely to work properly, as seen with GF3, which just can't compete with the other two.

I still want to know what that new book-thing we read about is going to be about? I guess we all do

This is horrible.

The Godfather Trilogy is the best trilogy in American film history.

The Godfather is considered by many (including myself) to be the best film of all time.

In my opinion, it can be rivaled by only one film: The Godfather Part II.

The third movie wasn't as good, but it didn't bring down the overall trilogy.

A bad fourth might just do that.

The Godfather was such a brilliant movie that to try to match it is a mistake.

They got lucky once and produced a sequel that was actually to the level of the original. But then they got greedy and made a third movie, which didn't turn out so well.

Now they try again, attempting to make a fourth.

Just leave it alone. Leave it alone.

I think you're skipping a few steps...

there has been something announced of somewhat a bookwise new episode to the Corleone-family stories....in a month or so the story outline and the writer will maybe be announced...

the only thing said about a movie is that "Paramount holds the rights"

you're drawing conclusions that might not even occur....

at least not for the next 2 or 3 years, the soonest a possible movie (bad idea, I agree) would be released is 2005 or 2006, I guess...

This is certianly something for us to look forward to. I can't wait to hear of who will be the author. I hope it Nicoleus Piggela (sp) the writer of Goodfellas and Casino.

Perhaps it will end up as a Mini-series ala "Scarlett".

Why bother with a book ? Just hire FFC to write another screenplay

As much as I don't want to see another Part III, or anything like it, I'm gonna keep my hopes up!

This is BIG news!

There you go....

'Cause everyone would want to see the movie, since the movie SHOULD deal with the missing years!

If there is to be sequel it better be good.
So that means no Leonardo DiCaprio as young Sonny, because he's a crap actor!

i have mixed feelings -- i'm quite thrilled and excited, but at the same time ... maybe, just let it end with Godfather 3?

you see, i'm a big Star Wars fan, and i always look forward to every episode with great interest. a lot of people hated Episode 1 with little Anakin Skywalker (but precisely -- George Lucas said that he wanted/had to show what a nice and good boy Anakin was, to show the great leap and difference from good to evil. it was to emphasize that point!), but i remain loyal to Star Wars, good or ugly.

with Godfather, i will always remain loyal (Star Wars and Godfather are my two all-time favorites). that, i can be sure of! however, i'm afraid that we might experience another prequel failure, where people's expectations (justly or not) are not met, and thus, the movie's status suffers.

i'm thrilled and excited about this, but i'm also afraid for my Godfather. maybe, they should just let it go at Godfather 3? i say this with a weeping heart.

Yeah, I think I agree with this. A fourth can bring down the whole trilogy.

While I'm excited that the characters will be ressurected, I hope that it's not a "Godfather IV". Just name it something else.

I think FFC is done with it, particularly the effort he put into making the Trilogy DVD. I'm sure he feels that the film version of the story is complete, from his point of view. If they make a film of this pending novel, then it won't be him doing it.

This is incredible..FINALLY...it may happen!!

Although I believe the trilogy films have been sliding downhill, I would expect GF4 to be much better than GF3 - assuming they do it in the GF2 style of mixed flashback/present.

I would hope they spend at least 2/3 of the time on the "missing years" of 20s/30s - as Puzo probably already wrote the screenplay for this part - Puzo said (DVD Bonus) he gave it to Paramount and DeNiro. I would find the 20/30s history with DeNiro and a Sonny character (not DeCaprio!!) more interesting than some new material revolving around Andy Garcia and perhaps sissy Anthony returning to the family after his sister is killed ala young Michael after the hit on Vito.

The only required actors are DeNiro and Andy Garcia.

Yeah, these are sure necessary.

This is from E!Online:

Turning the novel into a movie would be a major task, but rumors of a Godfather IV have been gestating for years. In 1999, shortly before Puzo's death, Paramount was in feeling-out talks with Puzo, original director-cowriter Francis Ford Coppola (news), Godfather III star Andy Garcia (news) and, yes, Leonardo DiCaprio (news) about a fourth installment. Those plans were scuttled, however, once Puzo passed away.

But Karp says it was always Puzo's wish to return to the family that made him rich and famous (and earned him a Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar in for the original, which he shared with Coppola).

"I talked to Mario about it a few times, and he wanted to do more with the Sonny Corleone character in some way, and Michael Corleone did make an appearance at the beginning and end of The Sicilian, and I wanted to do more with the Johnny Fontaine character," says Karp. "He was open to the idea of doing more with the Corleones."

No word from Coppola, Garcia or DiCaprio on their future Godfather plans, if any.

As for skeptics who say Random House is exploiting Puzo's novel to make a quick buck, Karp says the publisher would rather sleep with the fishes than make mincemeat out of the Corleone clan.

"Obviously these characters have a mythic hold on the public, and we take this challenge very seriously," says Karp. "We're going to pick a writer who will take the Corleone family on an entertaining and compelling journey."

Pleaaasee! No Andy Garcia,

That would really be a "minus" to me. I don't mind Garcia or his acting, however, he is soooo wrong for the part. I have seen him on some "Spanish/Mexican" stations here in California speaking for "hispanic" causes, presenting Latin awards, etc., which is all fine.... and probably has something to do with I DON'T think of him as Italian at all, and to try to convince me of that on film, after hearing him speak so proudly of his own heritage is impossible. I sure hope they don't blow it and put him in it. IMHO!!

TIS

[QUOTE]Originally posted by The Italian Stallionette:
[QB]Pleaaasee! No Andy Garcia,

I tought he made it worth watching the movie, besides it would be logical if the new part would be going abaut the Vincent regime.

´´Don´t overestimate the power of forgiveness`` Michael Corleond Part III

Am I missing something? The only thing that's been determined is that there's a feeling out process to see if anybody's interested in writing a book. That will take about a year, year and a half, at best. Then to find out if the book is any good, writing a screenplay, determing production, etc. would take another year or two.

Any talk of actors is way premature because we don'teven have a novel yet. That's the story, not a movie.

This IS big news, like my fellow BB member Oblong, has just said tho, a film would be a long way off.
It's a bit worrying what they'd do with it. Maybe it would end up as a stand alone film about a brand 'new' Corleone family (actor wise that is). I suppose it would have to be stand alone anyway seeing as how the 3 films were the trilogy, it could be judged on it's own merits! I agree with my friend TIS, if, it was a continuation of the story and Andy Garcia was resurrected as Vincent Mancini...well
Heres hoping anyways

FH

Michael was more likeable in the novel. He was not so self-absorbed. Kay was sweet. She was not anoying as she is in the movies.

I like to see more Fredo, running his whorehouse and courting Deana.

I kinda thought there were rivalry b/w rocco and al neri--would like to see situations with them.

I guess you might object to these too:

* Marlon Brando playing Vito? Brando is of Irish descent. And regarding political activism, remember when Brando sent a Native American to refuse his Godfather Oscar? What about Brando's anti-semetic statements, for which he later apologized?

* Al Pacino playing Scarface? (where Robert Loggio is Lopez, Murray Abraham is Omar Suarez) or in Carlito's Way? Does that Pacino is not hispanic take away from these films?

* DeNiro playing Young Vito? DeNiro is Irish-Italian - more Irish than Italian.

What about Charlton Heston playing Moses? Heston is not Jewish. Or just about any western in which someone played an Indian or Mexican (i.e. Eli Wallach - Don Altobello in GF3 - playing Ugly Mexican Tuco in "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly").

Don's Advisor,

With all due respect, let me try to explain my thinking ok?

I don't object to the other actors' roles you mentioned. With the exception of Pacino and DeNiro,( DeNiro, who I thought was ALL Italian til recently) I had no idea of what heritage the other people were, and I suppose that's exactly why all those you mentioned fit in their role, they were believeable in their parts.

Like I said, I don't think AG is a bad actor, and don't dislike him. I just don't think he fits in with the "Corleone" family no more than Pacino would fit in a remake of say, "The Quiet Man", (an old John Wayne movie based around life in Ireland.) For that matter neither would DeNiro, and he IS mostly Irish. Neither would look the part, yet both are remarkable actors.

Granted, being Italian myself, I do enjoy having a couple good Italian actors into the mix when a movie is made about "Italian Mafia". I guess I am kind of biased in that respect. But it does seem logical as well

As far as Pacino in Scarface, yea, he isn't Cuban, but in my eyes, he is the definite exception, because he played the role to perfection as most people here I think will attest to. He was totally believeable. (however, perhaps those who are Cuban feel differently)

Anyway, no need to worry, cause I know the bigwigs won't be contacting me for any advice, and if another GF is made, AG may very well take the lead, I don't know!!! One thing is for sure tho, I definitely will see it, no matter who is in it.

Take Care
TIS

I say any Hollywood pezzonvante that dares cast Leonardo DiCaprio as Santino Corleone is going to end up with a horse's head in his bed.