Francis Ford Coppola has revealed that he has been working on a new version of the much-maligned, The Godfather: Part III.
The new reworking, titled Mario Puzo’s The Godfather, Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone, promised to be a “more appropriate conclusion” to the cult mafia trilogy.
“For this version of the finale, I created a new beginning and ending, and rearranged some scenes, shots, and music cues,” Coppola shared in a statement. “With these changes and the restored footage and sound, to me, it is a more appropriate conclusion to The Godfather and The Godfather: Part II.”
Coppola and the production team undertook the meticulous task of restoring the original film in 4k. A process that involved sifting through 300 cartons of negative film. The team were able to replace over 50 lower resolution opticals and repair scratches, stains, and other irregularities that they were unable to do previously due to technology constraints.
“Mr. Coppola oversaw every aspect of the restoration while working on the new edit, ensuring that the film not only looks and sounds pristine, but also meets his personal standards and directorial vision,” shared Andrea Kalas, senior vice president, Paramount Archives.
The Godfather, Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone will debut in select cinemas this December in celebration of the 30th anniversary of its release. It will then be receive a physical home release.
Watch a trailer for The Godfather Part III:
