Movie News

5 Times Al Pacino and Robert De Niro Almost Played Each Other’s Roles

Published by
Tim Molloy

Robert De Niro Could Have Played Michael Corleone, the Role Al Pacino Made Iconic in The Godfather

Al Pacino as Michael Corleone

Sean Levy writes in the excellent biography De Niro: A Life that Francis Ford Coppola considered “a number of names for every key role” in 1972’s The Godfather – including De Niro and Pacino. Though the role of Michael Corleone went to Pacino, Coppola was impressed enough with De Niro to consider him for the role of Michael’s brother, Sonny, which ultimately went to James Caan.

So Pacino and De Niro’t get to play brothers — but they did play father and son when De Niro won the part of Vito Corleone in The Godfather Part II, taking on the younger version of Marlon Brando’s Godfather.

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Tim Molloy

View Comments

  • De Niro is known more now for his political garbage than his movies. I wouldn't cross the street to see him in a movie.

  • I can see the comments section is infested with alt-right cult members following the link from the Drudge Report.

  • Pacino has had a much wider body of excellent work (see Scent of a Woman, Devil's Advocate). DeNiro is good in Mob roles, but ordinary in others.

    I also wouldn't mind seeing him stick to movies and away from politics.

  • I agree. Al Pacino has more breath and depth as an actor. DeNiro's ascent into that rarefied air was made possible through Scorcese's directorial balls and know how. Al Pacino's success can be directly related to Pacinos talent. Look at the movie historical perspective. Pacino worked with many talented directors. The same cannot be said of Mr. DeNiro

  • de Niro is an airhead with 5 great performances, each playing someone with brain damage. this is not that hard to do. otherwise he mugs and schticks, and for some reason everyone swoons.

    Pacino hasn't had enough good roles for his talent, and has made some strange choices, but his is the greater talent, by far.

  • "The Irishman" is the third time Pacino and De Niro are united on screen. They never shared the screen in "The Godfather Part II". And to say "only" the fourth is stupid. Most stars aren't ever in the same movie much less four!

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