MOVIE NEWS – Marlon Brando’s last acting role was for The Godfather video game adaptation, but EA was able to use only one line of his recording as Vito Corleone. Despite his failing health, the legendary actor agreed to reprise his iconic role for the game.

When The Godfather debuted in cinemas in 1972, technology wasn’t advanced enough to allow for a virtual adaptation of Francis Ford Coppola’s masterpiece. It wasn’t until 2006 that EA created a video game that aimed to live up to expectations.

In 2002, EA negotiated with Viacom, the rights holder of Mario Puzo’s novel, to develop the game. The project brought back several iconic stars, including Marlon Brando, James Caan, Robert Duvall, and Abe Vigoda, who recorded new lines to add authenticity. James Caan expressed enthusiasm for the project in an interview with The New York Times:

“I love it because my kids can play with me after I’m gone. When they pitched it to me, my first thought was, ‘I’m finally going to get Sonny through the toll booth and take revenge.’ But that’s not what happened.”

However, not everyone shared this excitement. Francis Ford Coppola openly criticized the game, stating that EA never consulted him about its creation.

“The game turned the work we did on the film into a ‘kill or be killed’ session. I didn’t approve or even know about the project until it was complete. The courtesies I extended, like granting access to our archives, were given before I knew they were making a game. I didn’t collaborate and don’t support the result.”

Similarly, Al Pacino declined to participate in the game, although he allowed his likeness to be used in Scarface: The World Is Yours. The most notable case, however, was Brando’s. Despite his fragile health, he agreed to record lines for the game in what became his final acting role before passing away on July 1, 2004.

In February 2004, EA’s team visited Brando at his home on Mulholland Drive in Los Angeles to record his dialogue. Unfortunately, persistent buzzing from his oxygen tubes rendered the recordings unusable. Ken Felton, the audio producer, explained:

“That’s why we had to use a professional impersonator. The recordings were affected by the sound of the oxygen tubes in his nose.”

Mike Medavoy, one of Brando’s estate managers, reflected on the actor’s thoughts about reprising his role:

“He was fascinated by technology and enjoyed experimenting with new things. He understood that the movie and the game were two separate entities. At the time, he was more focused on dealing with fame. He didn’t want to be idolized as a celebrity but recognized as a person.”

Although Brando passed away from pulmonary fibrosis, EA managed to include one line of his in the game. This line appears during the seventh mission, where Corleone is shown in a hospital bed after an assassination attempt. His words, though faint, are as follows:

“You know, there’s a lot of nonsense about this Sollozzo business. It’s very unfortunate, really unnecessary. I politely said no to him. I told him his business wouldn’t interfere with mine. But he didn’t take it well. I know the Tattaglia family has brought misfortune on our own heads. Well, that’s life. Everyone has their own tale of woe.”

The video game faithfully recreated Marlon Brando’s likeness, preserving a piece of his legendary portrayal of Vito Corleone. This digital legacy remains an integral part of the game’s open-world experience.

Source: 3djuegos