By Elizabeth Ann
I AGREE THE GODFATHER SHOULD NOT BE REMADE, but it’s still fun to think of who would play the iconic characters if the film were to be remade.
Agree? Disagree? Any other actors who would be good in these roles?
Jon Favreau as Don Vito Corleone:
Jon Favreau possesses both a confidence and imposing physical build similar to Brando in his role as The Godfather. As Favreau is a completely different type of actor than Brando, his performance would inevitably be different, but he’d bring something interesting to the role. He has a forceful voice and a unique way of putting emphasis on syllables that would be reminiscent of Brando’s but all his own at the same time.
Joaquin Phoenix as Don Vito Corleone:
There’s a scene in Walk the Line where Phoenix sings “Folsom Prison Blues” at Sun Records. He does this thing with his jaw when talking to the record producer that reminds me of Marlon Brando doing the “I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse” line. Phoenix sounded like Cash when he spoke and sung in the film, so I could imagine he could mold his voice to sound like Brando’s, not that he has to try and remake Brando’s performance. Phoenix has a distinct screen presence much like Brando had his own, but a completely different one at that. He can play subdued characters very well, such as in Ladder 49 and for some of The Master, and he does well with ruthless characters, a la his role in The Gladiator.
Leonardo DiCaprio as Michael Corleone:
Leo seems an obvious choice to be someone in a remake of The Godfather. He can play cool and collected characters, most notably Jack Dawson in Titanic, which could serve him well in the early scenes when Michael is still a respectable and decorated war veteran. DiCaprio’s role as Frank Abagnale Jr. in Catch Me If You Can shows how he can change characters and personalities well, much like Al Pacino’s Michael flips the switch in The Godfather when he sees the group of men at the hospital try to take out his father.
Milo Ventimiglia as Michael Corleone:
I’ve only seen Ventimiglia in Rocky Balboa about nine years ago when it came to DVD and then on a few episodes of Heroes, but he seems to have a tranquility about him that reminds me of Michael when he was still a good man. I think it might be interesting to see him make a surprising turn (surprising to me at least; again, I haven’t seen much of his work) playing an increasingly intense character.
Vincent Piazza as Sonny Corleone:
James Caan originated the role of Sonny, playing him with brutish cockiness and energy. Piazza doesn’t have the physical build of Sonny, but he definitely has the physicality, if that makes sense. He has the swagger and the sort of tongue-to-the-front-teeth way of speaking that Sonny spoke with as well. In the beginning of the film adaptation of the play Jersey Boys, Piazza talks at the audience like he owns the ground he walks on, much like Sonny demands attention. Piazza would need to bulk up significantly to play him, but he’s definitely familiar with the mobster material due to his impressive work as Lucky Luciano on HBO’s Boardwalk Empire.
James Franco as Fredo Corleone:
Fredo was the hardest character to think of a modern-day actor to play. He was the “weakest” member in the Corleone clan. John Cazale’s character was more gentle and even a little slower than everyone else, which brings James Franco’s role in Spider-Man 3 (I’m sorry to use that disappointing movie as an example of good acting) to mind. Franco’s Goblin character chases after Peter Parker angrily, consequently, injuring himself and causing him to lose his memory. When he wakes up, he doesn’t remember ever being angry at Parker, and acts gently toward him. He exudes an innocence (even though Fredo isn’t totally innocent) and slowness in these scenes that makes him at least a potential candidate to play Fredo.
Shea Whigham as Tom Hagen:
Robert Duvall’s even-keeled Tom Hagen tamed the fiery personalities of the Corleone family, much like Shea Whigham’s character Eli Thompson did with the short-tempered mobsters on Boardwalk Empire. Whigham’s character had much respect for his older brother and remained loyal to him (with the exception of a few major behind-the-back moves), much like Duvall’s Hagen had for Vito Corleone. Whigham has a gravelly voice and body structure similar to Duvall, conveniently both standing tall at 5’9” and carrying themselves firmly but not in an intimidating way necessarily. Whigham certainly has the acting chops to pull off Hagen.
Sophia Bush as Kay Adams:
Sophia Bush doesn’t have the same pleasant attitude about her in her roles that Diane Keaton exuded in the film, but she can play characters that are keen and independent like Keaton’s Kay shows later in the trilogy. Bush plays a detective on Chicago P.D. who doesn’t put up with any nonsense, much like Keaton’s Kay grows more resistant and resentful of Michael’s “career.”
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