De Niro and Pacino square up for Godfather

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.