Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather Part III almost starred Nicolas Cage, which likely would have benefited the sequel and made it more memorable today. The 1990 release is one of the most contentious threequels ever, as it isn't considered anywhere near as good as Coppola's first two Godfather movies. It also redeemed Michael Corleone (Al Pacino), an evil gangster who should never have found atonement. However, The Godfather Part III introduced one of the best characters in the whole saga, Vincent Mancini (Andy Garcia), the long-lost son of Sonny Corleone (James Caan).
While it was a huge role for Garcia, Nicolas Cage tried pulling some strings to get the part first. After reading the screenplay, Cage begged Coppola for the new Godfather role. Coppola wasn't just the movie's director but Cage's uncle, too. Nepotism is omnipresent in Hollywood, and Coppola is certainly guilty of that. The celebrated filmmaker cast both his daughter and his sister in main roles in the Godfather series and Cage previously in Peggy Sue Got Married, so it comes as a surprise that he refused to cast his nephew this time. However, Coppola made a mistake, as Cage would have brought something special to the part of Vincent.
Nicolas Cage Would Have Been Perfect As Vincent
Though they never knew each other, Vincent had a lot of his father, Sonny's characteristics, such as being hot-headed and instinctual. Few actors are as impulsive and unpredictable as Nicolas Cage, and Vincent could've been the perfect vessel for another unforgettable, manic performance from the prolific actor. The casting also would've elevated what is considered the worst Godfather movie. In fact, Cage's frantic performances almost seem to channel James Caan's performance as Sonny in The Godfather. While the Godfather series is generally grounded, The Godfather Part III sees Vincent assassinating other mobsters while riding a horse and disguised as a cop. Nobody would have embraced that theatricality more than Cage.
Cage instead went on to star in Wild at Heart, which was also released in 1990, and while it's another great surrealist film from David Lynch, playing Vincent would have led to a more thoughtful performance from the actor. If Cage had been cast as Vincent in The Godfather Part III, there might have even been more likelihood of The Godfather Part IV being made, which was in development in the 1990s. The fourquel would've followed Vincent as the head of the Corleone family, and as the actor was a huge star at the time, a Cage-led The Godfather Part IV could've been conceivable.
Andy Garcia Was Still A Good Choice
The cast is partly why The Godfather Part III is so badly regarded, as George Hamilton was underused and Sofia Coppola wasn't cut out for acting (though she went on to become an incredible director). However, Garcia's performance as Vincent is actually the silver lining of the movie. He plays the role with a superb level of intimidation when he's facing off against other mobsters, then perfectly plays him as humble when he's around Michael. Garcia was deservedly nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for playing Vincent, too. While Cage could've mastered the character, the movie is still at its most exciting when Garcia is on the screen.