In a 25th anniversary re-release of GF (on VHS), Mario Puzo said in the introduction that he had heard that Danny Thomas was going to buy Paramount Pictures so he could star as Don Corleone. "I was disturbed by that," Puzo said. He said he wanted Brando, got Brando's address from his agent, and sent him a copy of the script. According to Puzo, Brando said he was interested, but wanted to wait to see who was named director.

Brando's name was mud in Hollywood at the time. Gulf + Western Industries, which owned Paramount, didn't want to touch him with a 10 foot pole. After Puzo and Coppola kept insisting, they agreed, but only if Brando took a screen test and posted a cash bond to guarantee that he wouldn't cost the studio more money in overtime and no-shows.