Changing the name of any potential further films in the franchise has multiple benefits, but it may be difficult to convince Hollywood marketing types that calling a future film something like, "
Mario Puzo's The Corleones," will register with modern audiences as a Godfather movie. They could use the same music, the same font lettering can be used, the characters can be referenced in marketing materials, and using
Mario Puzo's name and having FFC sign on as an executive producer, all of this could lend some authenticity to the project.
A while back when there was a hunt for an author to write a new Godfather novel and they found Mark Winegardner, I knew a guy who submitted a draft for a story about the Corleone family that took place during the period between DeNiro Vito and Brando Vito. I vaguely remember some of the details he had in the story - which for all I know could have been the shittiest draft of a story ever written because the dude's never published anything - but, the interesting thing about this and what is ultimately my point, is that he claimed to have been turned down because he wouldn't be allowed to write about that period,... That Paramount had legal option to tell stories that took place during that time period and involving those characters and no drafts would be accepted that treaded on Paramount's legal claims.
Now, I'll be the first person to say, ok, that makes sense, but I also call bullshit. The Winegardner stories use characters created in the Godfather part II that were not a part of Puzo's original novel - Hyman Roth and Johnny Ola and such. Maybe there was some sort of deal between Paramount that allowed that to happen?
But, maybe that's not bullshit. Isn't there a well-told story about how Paramount HAD a story for a fourth Godfather film? Even Francis has spoken about it:
"...And then there was talk of a fourth 'Godfather.' And I had an idea of how you could do it, oddly enough, again paralleling two stories because it was a big part of the book that had never been made — it was the period sort of between the old period in 'Godfather II' and when you see Marlon Brando in 'The Godfather.' Mario called it the 'happy years' — when we killed them and they didn't kill us. [He laughs.]
"And Mario was very concerned to make money because he was getting older and he really wanted to leave his kids well-fixed, and I said to Paramount, 'Look it, we have an idea of a structure of this thing. Pay
Mario Puzo a million dollars to do this first draft, and I'll help him and work with him. You don't have to pay me anything. But he's getting old, and he's not entirely well.' And they basically didn't do it. And then he died. "
http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1576410/story.jhtmlI don't think we should give up hope. A 4th Indiana Jones film, Die Hard 4, the upcoming Ghostbusters 3,... so many fanchises are being revisited these days and making tons of money - its an offer Paramount can't refuse to bring the Godfather back! (Ok, I had to say it, I'm a cliche whore - sue me!)
On top of all that, EA has released two successful video games and the Blu-Rays and DVDs are some of the best selling home video films of all time.
Maybe its just my humble opinion, but I really think "
Mario Puzo's The Corleones," the story of the Olive Oil Wars, seeing Genco Abandando come to life, the formation of the Five Families, and all the other elements of those "happy years" is more a reality than we're leading ourselves to believe. Have faith! :-)
