A new version of The Godfather Part III is being released, fully restored with a new beginning, ending and using director Francis Ford Coppola's original title. The film closed out Coppola's epic tale of the Corleone crime family, which began with his 1972 adaptation of Mario Puzo's novel The Godfather. The gangster tale was nominated for nine Oscars and won three, including Best Picture, Best Actor for Marlon Brando, and Best Adapted Screenplay for Coppola and Puzo.
The Godfather Part II was released two years later, adding Robert DeNiro to the cast, with his story taking place in parallel with that of Al Pacino's Michael Corleone. The sequel was an even bigger success, winning six Oscars from 11 nominations, with DeNiro taking home Best Supporting Actor, Coppola Best Director, and the movie once again winning Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay. Coppola considered the Corleone tale told after the second film but was persuaded to write and direct a third movie after being offered a big payday. Released in 1990, The Godfather Part III is by no means a bad movie, getting seven Oscar nominations, but is regarded as the weakest of the bunch.
Paramount Pictures announced they would be releasing a new version of the movie, under the title Mario Puzo’s The Godfather, Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone, which is the one Copolla initially chose, before studio executives simplified it for theatrical release. Coppola has fully restored the movie alongside his editors, including a new beginning, ending, and alternate takes of some shots, as well as new musical cues. Coppola calls it a "more appropriate conclusion to the Corleone story." You can see more comments from the director on the project below.
Mario Puzo’s The Godfather, Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone’ is an acknowledgement of Mario’s and my preferred title and our original intentions for what became The Godfather: Part III. For this version of the finale, I created a new beginning and ending, and rearranged some scenes, shots, and music cues. With these changes and the restored footage and sound, to me, it is a more appropriate conclusion to The Godfather and ‘The Godfather: Part II and I’m thankful to Jim Gianopulos and Paramount for allowing me to revisit it.
The re-release is taking place on the 30th anniversary of the film's release, and based on Coppola's comments, will be closer to his original vision of the film. At the time of release, one can understand why executives chose to change the title, as it not only follows the logic of the other two movies in the franchise but also avoids the major spoiler of the film, in that it reveals Michael Corleone's death. Now, however, the title can be changed, as there is nothing to spoil three decades later.
It also allows Coppola to re-frame the story correctly. Rather than being a continuation of Corleone's story as a criminal, the third film is more about the regret he has for the decisions he's made throughout his life, including killing his brother and hurting his ex-wife both emotionally and physically. It's more similar, in theme and approach, to Martin Scorsese's recent tale of gangster regret, The Irishman, than either of the two previous Godfather movies. Mario Puzo’s The Godfather, Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone will have a brief run in theaters in December, before being released on digital and disc in 2021.
Source: Paramount Pictures