Mario Puzo Estate On Godfather Lawsuit: Absolute Baloney

Paramount Pictures are trying to put the kibosh on the release of a new Godfather-related novel from Mario Puzo estate. The New York Post have reported that the film company have claimed that the novel would violate the copyright agreement that they made with Puzo in 1969. The novel, entitled The Family Corleone, is scheduled for release later this year, but Paramount Pictures reportedly filed a suit yesterday (February 21, 2012) to halt the release of the novel.

A lawyer for Mario Puzo's estate has slammed the move from Paramount Pictures as "reprehensible" and, sticking to pure Godfather vernacular, "absolute baloney." Bert Fields, representing the estate, insists that the deal with Paramount "specifically crosses out publishing rights." Mario Puzo died in 1999; he wrote the Godfather novels and also adapted the screenplays for The Godfather and its two sequels with Francis Ford Coppola. The last of the Godfather movies was released in 1990.

Starring a host of screen legends, including Al Pacino, Marlon Brando, Robert De Niro, Robert Duvall, James Caan, Diane Keaton and Andy Garcia, the Godfather trilogy has become one of the most influential film franchises of all time. Between them, the movies have grossed over $380 million worldwide. The Puzo estate have previously filed lawsuits against Paramount Pictures, regarding film royalties and profits from a Godfather video game. These lawsuits were eventually settled out of court.