You're never far from a "horse's head" gag when it comes to Godfather-related news. Nor, it turns out, a convoluted, generation-spanning family feud. Call it the curse of the Corleones. The Coppola clan paid the price for Godfather III by retreating into wine-making and hipster indie movies, but now the curse has struck the Puzos – the family of original author Mario. Mario's son Anthony is publishing a prequel to the original saga – The Family Corleone – based on a screenplay his father wrote. But Paramount Studios, which owns the Godfather brand, says the novel must sleep with the fishes; they want "to protect the integrity and reputation of the Godfather trilogy", according to the lawsuit.

This isn't the first unauthorized Godfather novel from The Puzo estate – so they had better watch their backs. Coincidentally, though, The Family Corleone was written by Ed Falco – uncle of Edie Falco, who played Tony Soprano's wife. So Paramount better watch their backs. The solution is obvious: Corleones v Sopranos: Godfather of Cash-Ins – a family comedy directed by Sofia Coppola in which everybody eats a big Italian meal then kills each other. Surely that's an offer you can't refuse?