You can imagine it was a big day in the MTV offices when Francis Ford Coppola dropped by. We covered a variety of topics during our lengthy chat with the laid-back director, but perhaps none was more interesting than hearing what happened firsthand with the now-abandoned fourth "Godfather" film.

"I had an idea of how you could do it," Coppola began, revealing that it would have "[paralleled] two stories because it was a big part of the book that had never been made. It was the period sort of between the old period in 'Godfather II' and when you see Marlon Brando in 'The Godfather.' Mario called it the 'happy years' — when we killed them and they didn't kill us."

Just like "Godfather III" was the motivation for Coppola embarking on that project, it was the state of "Godfather" author Mario Puzo's finances that propelled discussion of "IV." Read more...

It's been a tough time for Francis Ford Coppola recently. Even as his eagerly anticipated return to filmmaking, "Youth Without Youth," is set for release, news broke last week that a burglary has put a future Coppola film, "Tetro," in jeopardy.

At least the filmmaking titan can expect one concerned phone call soon. Oscar nominee Javier Bardem told me yesterday, "I should call him today or tomorrow." Bardem has been rumored to play a role in "Tetro," a secretive film rumored to star Matt Dillon and begin shooting in February. Bardem confirmed to me that his teaming with Coppola could happen. "I am associated [with "Tetro." It was a conversation Francis and I had months ago. Since then we haven’t talked very much. He didn’t know when he was going to make it. Now it's time that we speak and see what's going on." Read more...