20 Things You Probably Didn't Know About The Godfather
19. Elvis Auditioned For The Movie
Robert Duvall's character, Tom Hagen, serves as the Corleone family's solicitor and adviser, as well as Vito's adoptive son. Since he's not much of a fighter, Tom relies on civil negotiations anytime the Corleones are in trouble.
Even though Duvall was perfect in the role, Tom could've been played by Elvis Presley! The King of Rock n' Roll was an enormous fan of Mario Puzo's work and jumped at the opportunity when he was asked to audition for Tom. Known for his insurmountable ambition, Elvis also lobbied for the Godfather himself, Vito Corleone. Obviously, Coppola never considered him for the titular character, knowing he wasn't right for the role.