Al Pacino says he was almost fired from ‘The Godfather’

LONDON - Al Pacino has revealed that director Francis Ford Coppola wanted to sack him from his iconic role as Michael Corleone in ‘The Godfather’ but late Marlon Brando helped him keep it.

The 70-year-old Oscar-winner talked about working with Brando and his role as Michael Corleone in an interview with CNN.

“Brando was a source of inspiration. It was unnerving playing with him in Godfather. But he was good to me. He was sensitive to me,” the Daily Mail quoted him as saying.

“They thought I was wrong for Michael and they were going to let me go. I was going to do him slow and let him discover who he is.

“Francis said, “You’re not cutting it for me kid.

“What kept me in was the restaurant scene. They kept me after the shooting,” he said.

Talking about his role as Michael Corleone, Pacino said: “I loved him! That’s like saying to a painter how could you paint this painting of whoever.”

“The movie had a lot to do with family and people related to it. You didn’t have to be Italian-American to appreciate it,” the actor said..

He said Johnny Depp was one of his favourite co-stars.

“He’s nuts but he’ll say I’m nuts,” Al added. (ANI)