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'Godfather' making-of TV drama series all set for Paramount streaming service

Ben Arnold
·Contributor
·2 min read
LOS ANGELES - MARCH 15: (From left) Salvatore Corsitto as Bonasera leans in to Don Vito Corleone, played by Marlon Brando in 'The Godfather, ' the movie based on the novel by Mario Puzo and directed by Francis Ford Coppola. This scene takes place in the Don's home office, summer of 1945. Initial theatrical release on March 15, 1972. Screen capture. Paramount Pictures. (Photo by CBS via Getty Images)
The Godfather (Credit: CBS via Getty Images)

Plans for a scripted drama series based on the making of The Godfather is moving ahead, with news that it will air on the Paramount+ streaming service from CBS.

The show will be called The Offer, a reference to the infamous threat delivered by Marlon Brando in the original movie – 'I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse'.

It will comprise 10 episodes, and is based on the never-before revealed experiences of veteran producer Al Ruddy making the movie.

Ruddy produced the 1972 multi Oscar-winner alongside Francis Ford Coppola, the late Bob Evans and the original novel's author Mario Puzo.

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There is some production heft behind the project too.

Producer Albert S. Ruddy (left) and actor Marlon Brando (1924 - 2004) on the set of 'The Godfather', directed by Francis Ford Coppola, Little Italy, Manhattan, New York City, 1972. (Photo by Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images)
Producer Albert S. Ruddy Marlon Brando on the set of 'The Godfather', New York, 1972 (Credit: Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images)

Alongside Ruddy, who will executive produce, is writer and producer Michael Tolkin, who wrote Robert Altman classic The Player and was the co-creator of the recent cult hit miniseries Escape at Dannemora.

There's a fascinating story to be told about how Ruddy brought the iconic mob drama to the big screen.

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A number of actors, including Warren Beatty and Jack Nicholson, turned down the role of Don Vito Corleone, eventually taken up by Brando, and no one wanted to be behind the camera either.

1972: Left to right: American actors James Caan, Marlon Brando, Al Pacino and John Cazale (1936 - 1978) pose together outdoors in a still from director Francis Ford Coppola's film, 'The Godfather,' based on the novel by Mario Puzo. (Photo by Paramount Pictures/Fotos International/Getty Images)
James Caan, Marlon Brando, Al Pacino and John Cazale (1936 - 1978) pose together outdoors in a still from director Francis Ford Coppola's film, 'The Godfather'. (Paramount Pictures/Fotos International/Getty Images)

Ruddy told Slashfilm in May this year: “It went to every director in town. Nobody—I meant NO-BODY—wanted to touch it.”

The producer also had a fight with the studio to get the novelist Puzo to write the now iconic screenplay.

The CBS All Access streaming platform will be rebranded Paramount+ in early 2021, and will also boast all of the Godfather movies available to stream.

Watch the latest movie trailers below...