De Niro and Pacino square up for Godfather

By Patrick Garratt Published 12 March, 2004

EA is targeting Hollywood superstars Robert de Niro and Al Pacino for involvement in its Godfather games. Notice the plural, you schmuck.

EA is believed to be chasing the likenesses and voices of Robert de Niro and Al Pacino for its recently confirmed Godfather games, with talk from sources close to the publisher suggesting the gangster mega-stars may actually record brand new material for the projects.

EA's Hollywood action is most definitely on the up, having recently used portly ultra-spy Pierce Brosnan and stupidly attractive duo Heidi Klum and Shannon Elizabeth for the latest Bond game, Everything or Nothing.

Top level insiders are suggesting there will be more than one title based on the classic Mafia franchise. "EA doesn't look at anything as one game any more," said one.

"They're [EA] very excited about the Godfather," the source continued. "It's going to be massive. It's like Activision would do the Sopranos, Acclaim would do Goodfellas: only EA could do the Godfather."

Heated rumour is now suggesting De Niro and Pacino themselves may be involved in likeness capturing and voiceover work, as opposed to EA merely extracting the actors' classic lines from the Francis Ford Coppola movies. Some have also hinted that the director's daughter, Sofia Coppola, recently buoyed by success with quirky Japanese flick Lost in Translation, will also be involved due to her appearance in the third Godfather film.

EA Europe has been quick to dampen talk today, pointing to the fact that the first installment is unlikely to hit consoles until late 2005.

But the prospect of a full series of games based on the revered movies and the possibility of new material from the likes of De Niro and Pacino is likely to send shockwaves through the entertainment world.

Picture of Patrick.

About Patrick Garratt

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Comments (24) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Mugwum Verified Operations Director, Eurogamer Network #1 8 years ago

    "Patrick Garratt" - Before you ask, he's new!

  • renzo #2 8 years ago

    "EA doesn't look at anything as one game any more"

    Well, at least they're being honest. :)

    What is Mr. Garratt's handle gonna be? EG has already had a Mouse, so it makes sense for them to have a ....

  • UncleLou #3 8 years ago

    I'd point out the typo in the last line, but as he's new, I won't. :-D

    Anyway, DeNiro and Pacino, eh? I like them on the big screen, but see absolutley no need to play a game where they're involved.

  • ssuellid #4 8 years ago

    So who is he then?

    Previously editor or deputy editor of C&VG?

  • Mugwum Verified Operations Director, Eurogamer Network #5 8 years ago

    "I'd point out the typo in the last line, but as he's new, I won't"

    He is soooooo fired.

  • Mugwum Verified Operations Director, Eurogamer Network #6 8 years ago

    Pat comes to us from Future where he edited Xbox Gamer after it consumed Xbox World, which he also edited for Computec. Or something. I'm sure he'll pop on and explain himself at some point!

  • Killerbee #7 8 years ago

    Hello and welcome Patrick. :)

  • Tiger_Walts #8 8 years ago

    Taffer!

  • Kami #9 8 years ago

    Hi Patrick. *waves*

    And before you ask, yes, this is a new keyboard (check last Godfather news piece for the reasons behind this).


    I just wonder, is any movie sacred with EA around?

    *has a thought about a Crossroads game*

    AHHHHHHHHH! SHOOT ME! NO! *bangs head against wall until bleeding* BAD IMAGINATION! BAD! BAD!

  • kincaide #10 8 years ago

    Come on guys - what about Brando?

    !!WE WANT BRANDO!!

    And I would love to see what his demands would be.....

  • pjmaybe #11 8 years ago

    ...and a pack of butter...

    /shudders

    Peej

  • pjmaybe #12 8 years ago

    Sorry...!

    It is friday afternoon though...

    Still reeling from that "scene" being voted one of the top 100 sexy moments. Grughhhh!

    "...Oh we are the lads from country life and you can't put a better bit of butter in your wife...."

    /exts stage left

    Peej

  • Whizzo #13 8 years ago

    If only the last "a" was an "e" then a suitable handle would have been really easy.

    Anyhow Godfather the game, could be interesting. Just have Pacino saying "Say hello to my little friend!" in a Cuban accent before a big gun battle and it'll be excellent. Well it would if that was actually in any of the Godfather films and not Scarface...

  • Tiger_Walts #14 8 years ago

    LOL Peej, took me a moment to make the connection there.

  • funk #15 8 years ago

    "EA doesn't look at anything as one game any more,"
    no shit, more like an infinite franchise of minimal sequels ala fifa: underground

    "Activision would do the Sopranos"
    i'd like that, well i'd like a good sopranos game

    "Sofia Coppola, will also be involved due to her appearance in the third Godfather film"
    God :/



    "Come on guys - what about Brando?

    !!WE WANT BRANDO!!

    And I would love to see what his demands would be..... "

    he's dead

  • Whizzo #16 8 years ago

    No he's not.

  • pjmaybe #17 8 years ago

    "he's dead"

    No, to the casual observer it would appear so, but no, he's having ten years off dead for tax reasons...

    Peej

  • bmoviebob #18 8 years ago

    zzz

  • ng #19 8 years ago

    Seriously - Pat Garratt?
    Any truth in those Billy the Kid rumours...?
    :p
    Edited by 1 at 12/03/04 @ 17:22

  • Kami #20 8 years ago

    Lol @ Peej's comment

    Anyway...

    "It's like Activision would do the Sopranos, Acclaim would do Goodfellas: only EA could do the Godfather."

    No, the only reason EA pays for these high-end licenses is because even if the game is totally crap (Which, sadly, is most of the time...), they can sell it on the name alone. Good business practice really...

    ...

    Not so good for us gamers though...
    Edited by 1 at 12/03/04 @ 21:10

  • kissoon #21 8 years ago

    Please make them stop. PLEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSE!!!


    PS: Patrick, did you just call Shannon and Heidi stupid??? :)

  • LaundroMat #22 8 years ago

    I remember the "Untouchables" game (produced by the 80's own EA, Ocean), but no Godfather title.

    I just wonder if these people already have an idea of what the game will look like, or if they've just snapped the license for future use.

  • Kami #23 8 years ago

    LaundroMat, I think we can say quite safely - that if EA think they can make money from this license (Which is a possibility on name alone) - they will rush a game through.

    With EA, it's about the $$$$$. Not the game.

    It's why, deep down, I wish EA would have one major disaster... they might change their ways... I don't think this will be the major disaster, but I think it might be the first step down if EA aren't careful...

  • Royal Fool #24 4 years ago

    Why does it say "News by Rob Purchese" if Patrick wrote it?

    Also, posting in a four-year-old comments thread, woo, courtesy of Google!