Cancelled fourth film Ĭoppola stated that the idea of a fourth had been discussed but before they could take it further, Puzo died on July 2, 1999. For example, Leonard Maltin, said that casting Sofia Coppola was an "almost-fatal flaw". Sofia's performance was criticized negatively by critics. Coppola said the film is the version he and Puzo had originally envisioned, and it "vindicates" its status among the trilogy and his daughter Sofia's performance. On December 4, 2020, a recut version of the film titled Mario Puzo's The Godfather, Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone was released in a limited number of theatres as well as being released on Blu-ray and streaming platforms. In his audio commentary for Part II, he stated that only a dire financial situation caused by the failure of One from the Heart (1982) compelled him to take up Paramount's long-standing offer to make a third installment. Coppola intended Part III to be an epilogue to the first two films. Coppola felt that the first two films had told the complete Corleone saga. The film also weaves into its plot a fictionalized account of real-life events, which include the 1978 death of Pope John Paul I and the Papal banking scandal of 19, and links them with each other and with the affairs of Michael Corleone. It completes the story of Michael Corleone, a Mafia kingpin who tries to legitimize his criminal empire, and shows the rise of Sonny Corleone's illegitimate son Vincent Corleone as Michael's successor. Francis Ford Coppola returned as director for the feature-length film, while also writing the screenplay with the help of the author Mario Puzo. The Godfather Part III was released on December 25, 1990. Other subplots include Vito's daughter's abusive marriage, Johnny Fontane's success in Hollywood and Vito's second son Fredo's role in the family business in Las Vegas. Michael plans to move the family business to Las Vegas but before the move, his father dies, and he plots the killing of the heads of the five families on the day of his nephew's baptism. Vito then turns over the reins of the family to Michael. Michael returns to America after the news of his brother Sonny's murder. While in Sicily, Michael travels around the country and meets a woman he marries but who is killed in a car bombing. Meanwhile, Vito's oldest son Sonny takes over the family and Michael strikes back for the assassination attempt by killing Sollozzo and a corrupted police captain, forcing Michael to go to Sicily in hiding. The plot begins with Don Vito Corleone declining an offer to join in the narcotics business with notorious drug lord Virgil Sollozzo, which leads to an assassination attempt.
The feature-length film was directed by Francis Ford Coppola and based upon Mario Puzo's novel of the same name. The Godfather was released on March 15, 1972.