Francis Ford Coppola spills beans on his role in 'The God Father Part II'

Nearly 50 years after The Godfather Part 2 cemented its place in cinema history, Francis Ford Coppola has revealed his one regret about creating what many consider the greatest sequel of all time.

While speaking to The Washington Post, the five-time Oscar winner reflected on his role in Hollywood’s growing obsession with sequels.

After the massive success of The Godfather (1972), Coppola initially resisted directing the follow-up, suggesting Martin Scorsese take the reins.

Moreover, when Paramount rejected the idea, he made bold demands, including a $1 million paycheck and adding ‘Part 2’ to the title, an idea inspired by Russian films like Ivan the Terrible.

In regards to this, Coppola recalled, “They said, basically, ‘Francis, you’ve made Coca-Cola. You’re gonna stop making colas?’” while adding, “So I’m the jerk that started numbers on movies. I’m embarrassed, and I apologize to everyone.”

Despite his reluctance, Coppola directed The Godfather 2, which won six Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Additionally, it remains a critical and audience favorite holding a 96% score on Rotten Tomatoes.

It is worth mentioning that Coppola’s remarks come as Hollywood continues its reliance on sequels, with highly anticipated projects like Dune: Part Two on the horizon.