EA reveals Godfather details, signs movie stars for voice performances

Electronic Arts has opened confirmed details regarding its videogame adaptation of classic movie The Godfather after the Hollywood Reporter revealed that several stars of the film will be lending their voice talents to the game.

Actors James Caan and Robert Duvall have committed voice acting work and their likenesses circa 1972 for use in the game, and that the late Marlon Brando entered into a similar agreement and recorded voice work prior to his death last year. EA has also secured the rights to use Nino Rota's musical compositions for the film and its soundtrack.

The Godfather is due out on PS2, Xbox, PSP and PC this autumn and is in development at the EA's Redwood Shores studio, the publishing giant has confirmed. The game seemingly mimics the structure of Take-Two/Rockstar's monstrous Grand Theft Auto franchise, putting you in the role of a low-end mafia hood trying to earn a living in New York between 1945 and 1955.

Players will work a number of jobs on the streets, including shakedowns, bank job, drive-bys and assassinations, and then join the Corleone family where they will work with the likes of Sonny Corleone (Caan), Tom Hagen (Duvall) and Don Vito Corleone (Brando).

EA is aiming for GTA-style non-linear gameplay which will "offer gamers countless choices for solving the family's problems with brutal violence, skilful diplomacy, or a cunning mixture of both," and "decisions made by the player in the game will have lasting consequences".

We should learn more about The Godfather shortly, with EA gathering stars including Caan and Duvall for a grand unveiling in New York's Little Italy next week on 10th February. The game is also expected to be a major fixture of EA's E3 showing this year.