Michael Tolkin’s The Offer celebrated its first trailer release today, giving fans a taste of the high-stakes Hollywood drama that surrounded the making of The Godfather.

The series tells the story of Albert S. Ruudy (Miles Teller), The Godfather’s Oscar-winning producer and one of The executive producers of The Offer. Across 10 episodes, the plot takes us through the glitzy world of Hollywood in the ’60s-’70s, as Ruudy scrambles through setbacks that come in the way of producing what would go on to become one of the greatest films of all time.

The show is helmed by Oscar nominee Michael Tolkin, who spoke to reporters at a press release this week. “The only story I knew about the making of The Godfather was that Mario Puzo got into a fight with Frank Sinatra at Chasen’s,” he shared, referring to an iconic West Hollywood restaurant. “So I had 5 minutes of the show written and now I just needed 9 hours and 55 minutes more to fill it in.”

This altercation is one that features in the series’ first episode, and illustrates many of the challenges faced by the real Ruudy in his struggle to get the movie produced. The novel’s author, Mario Puzo, was accused by crooner Sinatra for defaming Italians; it was Ruudy who stepped in between the two great artists of their time, de-escalating the conflict.

Puzo, who also co-wrote the screenplay with director Francis Ford Coppola, watched his story turn into one of the most successful films of all time against all odds. The Godfather starred Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, John Cazale, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton, and Talia Shire; it was nominated for 11 Oscars and won three, including Best Picture for Ruddy.

Teller of Whiplash fame leads the show as Ruddy, while Matthew Goode, Giovanni Ribisi, Colin Hanks, Juno Temple, Patrick Gallo, and Michael Gandolfini round out the cast. Grey’s Anatomy fans are in for a surprise, as longtime-favourite Justin Chambers takes up the challenging role of playing ‘The Godfather’ himself, Marlon Brando.

Teller, meanwhile, has described the experience as ‘a blast’.

“Al isn’t as well known, at least mannerisms-wise, as some of these other characters in the story, so there’s a little bit more freedom there as far as character likeness, and your interpretation of them and needing to hit certain things. I didn’t really feel that,” the actor said of how he approached playing Ruddy.

The Offer is set to stream on Paramount+ on April 28th, 2022.

(Featured Image Credit: Paramount Pictures)