Francis Ford Coppola Apologizes For Starting Hollywood’s Sequel Obsession: “I’m Embarrassed”

After 50 years, Francis Ford Coppola has one regret about making what is largely considered the best sequel of all time.

According to the 5x Oscar winner, Hollywood’s ever-growing obsession with continuations is the result of his petty demands for making The Godfather Part II (1974), for which he fought Paramount Pictures on returning the director’s chair after the original 1972 was a major hit.

“They said, basically, ‘Francis, you’ve made Coca-Cola. You’re gonna stop making colas?’” recalled Coppola to The Washington Post.

In attempt to get out of directing the sequel, Coppola suggested up-and-coming director Martin Scorsese take the reins.

When Paramount rejected the idea, Coppola made some seemingly unreasonable demands, including a then-exorbitant $1 million paycheck and the addition of ‘Part II’ to the title (he was inspired by the Russian films Ivan the Terrible, Part I [1944] and Ivan the Terrible, Part II: The Boyars’ Plot [1958]). Although the studio thought it was a crazy idea, they ultimately agreed.

“So I’m the jerk that started numbers on movies,” Coppola added. “I’m embarrassed, and I apologize to everyone.”

Meanwhile, The Godfather Part II won six Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director for Coppola and Best Adapted Screenplay for him and author Mario Puzo. The film currently holds a 96% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 97% audience rating.

Coppola’s comments come after this year’s Dune: Part Two and amid the wait for Wicked: Part Two, coming to theaters Nov. 21, 2025.