Wanted: Actor to play Godfather's Michael Corleone

IT'S 43 years since Francis Ford Coppola's mob drama The Godfather was released - widely regarded as one of the greatest films of all time.

It's such a fixed point in the history of movies that, thankfully, no one has so far chanced their arm at a remake.

For starters there's the cast. Who would star as the patriarchal powerhouse, Don Vito Corleone, a job that proved to be one of Marlon Brando's finest, swollen-cheeked hours?

As for the long shadow left by Al Pacino's performance as youngest son Michael... well it's just not worth going there. Or is it?

Static Gallery are auditioning for someone to play the part of Michael Corleone in a re-make of a key scene from The Godfather. But get this: not only will money be changing hands but you will be starring opposite the actual actor from the same scene in the original film.

Gianni Russo played ill fated Carlo Rizzi, wife-beating brother-in-law of the Corleones, who is banished from the family and the business - not for being a wife-beater but for being a snitch - and no one likes those.

 

Gianni Russo

Now a New York-based crooner, Russo is in Liverpool on July 4-5 for a big band performance at Albert Dock and a special showing of The Godfather and a Q & A at The Odeon.

On the morning of July 4 he will be re-enacting his role as Rizzi in the scene Today I Settled All Family Business, at the Roscoe Lane gallery. Whoever stars opposite him, as Michael, is as yet unknown.

Michael is not particularly an older man's role, so for any of you people who are unfamiliar with the 1972 movie, or think it's uncool to watch anything but the latest releases, let's recap.

The Godfather, based on Mario Puzo's novel of the same name, focuses on the powerful Sicilian-American crime family of the Corleones. When well educated and well meaning son Michael gets sucked into the Mafia it all turns to bloodshed, betrayal and tears. His relationship with his wife, Kay (Diane Keaton) goes down the pan and he even ends up having his own brother whacked. So that went well.

Auditions for the part will take place at Static Gallery, 23 Roscoe Lane, Liverpool, L1 9JD, on June 20, 2015. They will start at 10am and will run throughout the day. But you can't just turn up. To apply for an audition slot you must email Paul Sullivan at paul@statictrading.com no later than 5pm, Friday 5 June.

Don't email or call us.

“This audition is open to anyone, professional actors, amateur actors, non-actors,” says Sullivan.

But why this? Why now?

Sullivan explains that the ensuing video of the remake will be part of an audio-visual art installation he's planning in galleries in 2016.

All you Toast of London types should take note that no travel expenses or fees can be paid to audition.

There is, however, a £250 payment for whoever does get the gig. Not bad for three minutes work. At these rates Pacino himself would be a fool not to give it a shot