Conversation so far:
What is the background of Tosca?
In the early 1880s Sardou began a collaboration with actress Sarah Bernhardt, whom he provided with a series of historical melodramas.
Did Sarah Bernhardt play a role in Tosca?
His third Bernhardt play, La Tosca, which premiered in Paris on 24 November 1887, and in which she starred throughout Europe.
Where all did they take La Tosca in Europe?
with more than 3,000 performances in France alone.
How was it received?
La Tosca, which premiered in Paris on 24 November 1887, and in which she starred throughout Europe, was an outstanding success.
What made it so popular?
CANNOTANSWER.
Is there anything else interesting about the background of this opera?
he wrote to his publisher, Giulio Ricordi, begging him to get Sardou's permission for the work to be made into an opera: .
Why did he need Sardou's permission?
When Sardou expressed his unease at entrusting his most successful work to a relatively new composer whose music he did not like, Puccini took offence.
What made him come around?
Puccini took offence.
He withdrew from the agreement, which Ricordi then assigned to the composer Alberto Franchetti.

Question: What happened after that?
Self-contained rewrite: What happened after Puccini withdrew from the agreement and Franchetti was assigned?