Nicolas Cage wanted Francis Ford Coppola to cast him in 'Godfather III': 'It just wasn’t going to happen'

Any actor would have been thrilled to be involved with 1990's seven-time Oscar-nominated The Godfather: Part III, including Nicolas Cage.

Cage had an inside track—or so he thought—because his uncle was Francis Ford Coppola, the man who directed the entire Godfather trilogy.

While participating in The Hollywood Reporter's newest "Actor Roundtable," Cage shared just how badly he wanted in when asked which movie he'd "love to make, but you don't think anyone would let you."

"This is a very embarrassing answer to your question, OK, because it involves family," the Oscar winner explained. "So Uncle was doing Godfather III, and I said, 'I really think I ought to be in your movie, Uncle. I really think it’s a good idea if you would cast me. I think I could play this part.' He was going to cast Andy Garcia, and I said, 'But I just see myself more as James Caan’s son, and he’s playing Sonny’s son. He’s not playing Michael’s son. He’s Sonny’s son. I just feel a little more James Caan.' It just wasn’t going to happen. Nope, not going to happen. So that was a movie I didn’t get let in that I really wanted to be in. There."

Garcia was cast as Vincent, and he was nominated for best supporting actor at the 63rd Academy Awards.

Coppola, meanwhile, has won five Oscars: best writing, story and screenplay based on factual material or material not previously published or produced (Patton), best writing, screenplay based on material from another medium (The Godfather), best director (The Godfather: Part II), best director (The Godfather: Part II), and best picture (The Godfather: Part II).