Francis Ford Coppola is one of Hollywood’s most celebrated directors, renowned for meticulously crafting masterpieces like The Godfather and Apocalypse Now. His ability to combine grand visuals with deep, complex storytelling earned him a place among the greatest filmmakers of all time. However, by the mid-to-late 1980s, Coppola’s career had entered a challenging phase. Both Hollywood and audiences began to question whether the once-revolutionary director could ever reclaim the brilliance that had defined his earlier work. Some of Coppola's big swings turned out low box office grosses, and his name became linked to that. Howver, as fate would have it, Coppola came very close to finding the perfect project to reignite his career.

The script he was attached to direct would go on to become considered one of the the best Clint Eastwood movies. Coppola’s involvement with Unforgiven marks a fascinating what-if moment in Hollywood, raising the exciting questions of what an epic western would have looked like under his direction, and how it could have changed the course of his career.

Francis Ford Coppola Was Attached To Unforgiven Before Clint Eastwood (& It Would've Been His Best Movie In Years)

Francis Ford Coppola Could Have Made Unforgiven His Career Comeback

Before Eastwood acquired the rights to David Webb Peoples’ script in the 1980s, Francis Ford Coppola was reportedly in discussions to direct. At the time, Coppola was coming off a string of commercial and critical disappointments. One From The Heart (1981), The Coton Club (1984), Tucker: The Man and His Dream (1988), and Godfather Part III (1990) all failed to meet the heights of the man who once juxtapose Michael Corleone renouncing his sins in church while orchestrating brutal mob assassinations, or Wagner’s "Ride of the Valkyries" blasting from a helicopter as it lays siege to a Viet Nam village. While these films had moments of brilliance, they didn’t achieve the universal acclaim of his earlier masterpieces.

Known for his dynamic use of lighting, shadows, and symbolic imagery, Coppola could have amplified the emotional and moral complexities with visually striking scenes.

Peoples’ script, which subverted Western tropes and explored themes of morality, violence, and redemption, had the weighty, dramatic elements that Coppola excelled at handling. Similar to Captain Willard’s (Martin Sheen) journey into the heart of darkness in Apocalypse Now, Unforgiven follows an ex-cowboy on the trail of a bounty as he grapples with violence, redemption, and the consequences of one’s past actions. It’s no wonder Coppola had optioned the script for some time. The film could have turned out to be one of his finest achievements since The Godfather Part II, if things just went a little differently.

How Unforgiven Might've Been Different With Francis Ford Coppola Directing Instead Of Clint Eastwood

Coppola’s Version Of Unforgiven Would Have Likely Been A Very Different Film

Francis Ford Coppola and Clint Eastwood are known for their distinct directing styles, which would have set their visions for Unforgiven worlds apart. Eastwood’s approach emphasizes stark realism, deliberate pacing, and a somber, grounded tone. His Unforgiven is purposefully bleak with muted colors and a minimalist style. Coppola, on the other hand, might have brought a more stylized and dramatic flair to the film. Known for his dynamic use of lighting, shadows, and symbolic imagery, Coppola could have amplified the emotional and moral complexities with visually striking scenes. His love for operatic storytelling might have also transformed Unforgiven into a grander, more theatrical experience.

Another major difference would have been casting. Though it’s hard to imagine William Munny as anyone but Clint Eastwood, Coppola was reportedly in talks to have John Malkovich don the hat and spurs. If that fell through, it’s possible the film could have seen Robert De Niro or Al Pacino step in. However, finding the funding for the film reached a dead-end for Coppola. The project lied dormant for years until it eventually landed on the desk of Clint Eastwood.

The rest is history. It’s now hard to imagine Unforgiven any other way. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times The screenwriter, David Webb Peoples, said as much. “Francis would have done it brilliantly as he does everything else, but it’s hard to imagine anyone making it as straightforwardly and uncompromisingly as Clint.” Ultimately, while Francis Ford Coppola’s Unforgiven remains a tantalizing what-if, Clint Eastwood’s take on the film delivered a definitive version that resonated with audiences.