Casting 2 Con Francis Ford Coppula- -

This open-door policy, however, made him a target.

Master of the Ensemble: Inside the Audition Rooms and Casting Philosophy of Francis Ford Coppola

Though Paramount Pictures executives ultimately passed on De Niro for the first film in favor of James Caan, the raw brilliance captured in that casting room directly compelled Coppola to hand De Niro the keys to a young Vito Corleone in The Godfather Part II —a role that won De Niro his first Oscar.

was a revolving door. One day, a tribesman from the Ifugao would play a Viet Cong sniper. The next day, he’d be a Green Beret. Coppola stopped using names. He used "faces."

The casting of "The Godfather: Part II" was a remarkable achievement that showcased Francis Ford Coppola's vision and craftsmanship. By combining established stars with new talent, Coppola created a film that was both a worthy sequel to "The Godfather" and a standalone masterpiece.

Coppola used casting to create cross-generational echoes:

McQueen demanded $3 million upfront (a third of the budget) and a helicopter escape clause. Coppola walked.

The controversial figures in his cast include Shia LaBeouf, who was facing a public lawsuit from ex-girlfriend FKA Twigs over allegations of abuse; Dustin Hoffman, who had been accused of sexual harassment on a 1985 TV film set; and Jon Voight, an outspoken conservative supporter of Donald Trump whose political views have frequently placed him at odds with Hollywood's progressive mainstream.

Coppola initially wrote a letter to Marlon Brando, attempting to convince the 49-year-old actor to play a 29-year-old version of himself. Brando declined. Coppola then recalled a stellar screen test from a young, relatively unknown actor who had auditioned to play Sonny Corleone in the first film: .