Paramount Pictures sues to stop publication of 'Godfather' prequel
Paramount Pictures has sued to keep a 鈥�Godfather鈥� prequel from being published, despite the fact that the book has been approved by author Mario Puzo鈥檚 estate.
Writer Ed Falco, uncle of actress Edie Falco who starred in the HBO Mob drama 鈥�The Sopranos,鈥� based his book 鈥�The Family Corleone鈥� on a screenplay by Puzo. The book is said to follow Vito Corleone as he struggles to become a powerful Don.
Paramount officially filed its lawsuit against the executor of the Puzo estate, Mario Puzo鈥檚 son Anthony. The studio said it holds the copyright to 鈥淭he Godfather鈥� and that while it gave the go-ahead to the 2004 book 鈥淭he Godfather Returns鈥� by Mark Winegardner, it did not authorize another book by Winegardner published in 2006 titled 鈥淭he Godfather鈥檚 Revenge.鈥�
鈥淭he studio has tremendous respect and admiration for Mario Puzo, whose novel 'The Godfather' was acquired in 1969 and helped spawn one of the most celebrated film trilogies of all time," a Paramount spokesperson said in . 鈥淲e have an obligation to and will protect our copyright and trademark interests.鈥�
Paramount said that when 鈥淭he Godfather鈥檚 Revenge鈥� was promoted, it was implied the studio had authorized the book, which was untrue. The studio wants damages from 鈥淩evenge鈥� and to block the publication of 鈥淭he Family Corleone.鈥�
Grand Central Publishing planned to release 鈥淐orleone鈥� in June.
Molly Driscoll is a Monitor contributor.
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