Francis Ford Coppola had to have Al Pacino as Michael

As well as Marlon Brando, Al Pacino is synonymous with ‘The Godfather’, but the actor wasn’t Paramount’s first choice for Michael Corleone.

The likes of Robert Redford and Ryan O’Neal were in the running for the role, while Martin Sheen and James Caan (who went on to play Sonny Corleone) screen-tested for the part.

As for Pacino, the actor felt like Paramount weren’t interested in casting him in the film, and Coppola was the only person who backed him for the role.

He said: “I thought, ‘how am I going to play this part?’ No one wanted me. Except for Coppola.”