Thirty-six years after the last Godfather film hit the screens, the gangster saga – regarded as the finest in the genre – is set to return to the big screens. A new film based on the novel Connie will focus on Don Vito Corleone’s only daughter and tell the family’s story from a female perspective.
Connie novel in development, Paramount bags film rights
A report in The Hollywood Reporter stated that Random House Publishing has won an eight-way auction for Connie, the new sequel novel approved and authorised by the estate of Mario Puzo, the author of the original Godfather. The new novel, written by best-selling Italian American author Adriana Trigiani, will be out in 2027. The report also mentioned that the film rights have already gone to Paramount
Paramount holds the rights to all films based on The Godfather under the original agreement. When Paramount bought the rights to Puzo’s original novel in 1969, it claimed ownership of the entire franchise, including future books. The author died in 1999, and after his heirs published two more Godfather novels over the studio’s objections, they ended up in court. The case was settled, with the family granted the freedom to publish new books, provided Paramount retained the first right of refusal on their film rights.
The original Godfather trilogy was directed by Francis Ford Coppola, but the maverick director may not return for a fourth Godfather film. A rep for Coppola told Rambling it’s “unlikely” the 87-year-old director will be making a female-focused Godfather IV anytime soon.
About The Godfather
The Godfather was written by Mario Puzo in 1969. It told the story of the fictional Corleone family and the Five Families, which formed the New York Mafia after World War II. The book was a bestseller and adapted to the screen by Puzo himself. Francis Ford Coppola directed the film, starring Marlon Brando as Don Vito Corleone. The film was instrumental in launching the careers of several promising young actors, including Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton, and John Cazale. The Godfather, released in 1972, was a massive box-office success. It is also considered one of the greatest films ever made, winning three Oscars from 11 nominations. The sequel, The Godfather II, was released two years later and was also a success, winning six Oscars. It launched the career of Robert de Niro, who won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. The Godfather Part III, released in 1990, is not as well-received but has gained a cult following over the years.