Paramount’s event seriesThe Offermay have suffered a blow – or dodged a bullet – when itlost its leading manArmie Hammerlast month, but another project about the making ofThe Godfatheris moving full speed ahead, as two-time Emmy winnerElisabeth Mossis set to joinJake GyllenhaalandOscar Isaacin a now-untitled film from directorBarry Levinson.
Andrew Farottewrote the original screenplay, which was voted to the Black List of Hollywood’s best unproduced scripts. Then titledFrancis and the Godfather, the script was later redeveloped by Levinson, who will also produce along withKevin Turen,Jon Levinand Echo Lake Entertainment’sMike Marcus,Doug MankoffandAndrew Spaulding, as well asJason Sosnoffof Baltimore Pictures.
Deadline broke the news that Moss will playEleanor Coppola, the wife ofGodfatherdirectorFrancis Ford Coppola, who will be played by Isaac in the film. Gyllenhaal will co-star as iconic Paramount executive Robert Evans, and I’m certain Levinson will cast someone asGodfatherproducerAlbert S. Ruddy, who would’ve been played by Hammer inThe Offer.
Who knows, maybe the same actor will be cast as Ruddy in both projects, like the wayDamon HerrimanplayedCharles Mansonin bothMindhunterandOnce Upon a Time in Hollywood. Then again, Manson was a small role in both of those projects, whereas Ruddy is the lead inThe Offerdespite likely being a supporting character in Levinson’s film.
What certainly isn’t a mystery at this point is that the making ofThe Godfatherwas famously chaotic, as there were epic behind-the-scenes battles between Coppola and Paramount on everything from shooting locations to casting. The studio desperately needed a hit, but the 31-year-old Coppola had his own vision for the movie and didn’t like to compromise.
Eleanor Coppola is, of course, the mother of filmmakersSofia CoppolaandRoman Coppola, as well as the grandmother of writer-directorGia Coppola. She’s also a filmmaker in her own right, having directed the 1991 documentaryHearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypseand other documentaries about her family’s films.
Best known for her acclaimed turns inThe Handmaid’s TaleandMad Men, Moss is coming off box office hitThe Invisible Manand the well-reviewed dramaShirley. She’ll soon be seen in a pair of films from noted auteurs –Wes Anderson’sThe French Dispatch, andTaika Waititi’sNext Goal Wins, the latter of which features Hammer in a small role. It’ll certainly be interesting to see what happens with that one.
Meanwhile, Moss will soon make her directorial debut with a Season 4 episode ofThe Handmaid’s Tale, and she’s also also developing two TV series as a producer and star – Apple’s metaphysical thrillerThe Shining Girls, and Hulu’strue crime dramaCandy, plus she’s set to star in Blumhouse’s psychological thrillerMrs. March. Moss is as busy as any actress in Hollywood, and you know what? It’s well deserved, because she’s truly fantastic. Marvel should keep her number on hand…
