Though the project might have lost its star in January, Paramount+ is trucking ahead with its series exploring the making of iconic gangster epic The Godfather as two-time BAFTA nominee Dexter Fletcher (Rocketman, Eddie the Eagle) has signed on as a director and executive producer, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
RELATED: Dianne Wiest Joins Jeremy Renner in Mayor of Kingstown for Paramount+
Entitled The Offer, the story will be based on the never-before-seen experiences of Oscar and Golden Globe-winning producer Albert S. Ruddy in his journey to bring Mario Puzo’s epic crime novel The Godfather to life on the big screen with Francis Ford Coppola helming the adaption and penning the script with Puzo. The 10-episode series was set to star Armie Hammer (The Lone Ranger) as Ruddy, though he departed the project in January amidst the early days of his ongoing scandal.
Click here to purchase Coppola’s Godfather trilogy!
The series is being written and executive produced by Michael Tolkin (Escape at Dannemora) alongside Fletcher, Fletcher’s producing partner Dalia Ibelhauptaite, showrunner Nikki Toscano (Hunters) and Emmy-winning producer Leslie Greif (Hatfields & McCoys). Sources report that Paramount Television Studios is looking to fast track production on the project now that Fletcher’s in the chair for the first block of episodes, with the director also set to be involved with the casting process and creating the look of the series.
RELATED: Flashdance Getting a TV Series Reboot at Paramount+
The biographical drama also marks the latest series currently in the works at the forthcoming Paramount+, with other projects including Kamp Koral: SpongeBob’s Under Years, The Man Who Fell to Earth, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies, MTV’s Behind the Music — The Top 40, The Game, Twenty Four Seven,You’re Killing Me, Flashdance and The Real Criminal Minds.
(Photo Credit: Amy Sussman/Getty Images for BAFTA LA)
