The Many Saints of ‘Newark’ | The Sopranos Prequel

[Doctor Jones]

Great interview. 20 years. Goddamn.

 

[James.B]

‘The Sopranos’ Creator David Chase Offers Glimpses Of Prequel Movie As Groundbreaking HBO Series Turns 20

David Chase has given Deadline a bit of clarity on the prequel feature film The Many Saints of Newark that he wrote with Sopranos alum Lawrence Konner. Chase confirms that a young Tony Soprano will be part of the tapestry of the period film.

As was the case with the show, Chase is clearly the guiding creative influence. That included setting director Alan Taylor, who helmed nine episodes of the show, and Alessandro Nivola to play Dickie Moltisanti. He was the father of Tony Soprano’s future protégé Christopher and a mob soldier who died in the ’70s at the hands of a crooked cop whom Christopher (Michael Imperioli) would later murder on the day of his retirement from the police force. That character will provide an entry point into a look at the mob’s origins in the turbulence of racial tensions between African Americans and Italian Americans in Newark, New Jersey at that time.


“I was interested in Newark and life in Newark at that time,” Chase told Deadline. “I used to go to down there every Saturday night for dinner with my grandparents. But the thing that interested me most was Tony’s boyhood. I was interested in exploring that.”

It harkens back to The Sopranos early episodes, when Soprano had his first sessions with psychiatrist Janice Melfi and lamented how organized crime had changed for the worse, and that he’d missed the good all days. It wasn’t all great, though.

“The movie will deal with the tensions between the blacks and whites at the time, and Tony Soprano will be part of this, but as a kid,” Chase said.

“I was against [the movie] for a long time and I’m still very worried about it, but I became interested in Newark, where my parents came from, and where the riots took place,” he said. “I was living in suburban New Jersey at the time that happened, and my girlfriend was working in downtown Newark. I was just interested in the whole Newark riot thing. I started thinking about those events and organized crime, and I just got interested in mixing those two elements.”

Chase acknowledged there was also the opportunity to explore the period that Tony Soprano glorified in the show’s early episodes.

“It is going to depict when it was good,” he said. “The mafia was very polished at that time, how they dressed and what they did,” he said. “Those traditions were followed more loosely in the series. These weren’t guys who wore tracksuits, back then.”

Chase understands that the movie will be running up against the memory of the original series, which I bada binged through the holidays and which holds up remarkably well.

“Yeah, I feel they’re out there with shotguns, just waiting,” he said.

The movie is casting up right now for production this year.

 

[terry78]

It's on my list.

 

[Holiday]

“It is going to depict when it was good,” he said. “The mafia was very polished at that time, how they dressed and what they did,” he said. “Those traditions were followed more loosely in the series. These weren’t guys who wore tracksuits, back then.”

"These guys today wanna be buried in a jogging outfit"

 

[James.B]

Jon Bernthal and Vera Farmiga Join ‘Sopranos’ Prequel Movie (EXCLUSIVE)

 

[Doctor Jones]

Fermiga seems like Livia.

 

[terry78]

Wow.

 

[James.B]

Corey Stoll, Billy Magnussen Join ‘Sopranos’ Movie Prequel (EXCLUSIVE)


Stoll has been busy on both the big and small screens, most recently appearing in “First Man” as Buzz Aldrin. On TV, he had roles in “The Romanoffs” and “The Strain.” Stoll can be seen next in the “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” Netflix series “Ratched.” He is represented by UTA, Suskin Management, and attorney James S. Adams.

As for Magnussen, he has a busy 2019 with Netflix’s “Velvet Buzzsaw” and Disney’s “Aladdin” bowing in 2019.

 

[harlequinade]

Jon boo and Vera? I'm in!

 

[Holiday]

I liked Magnussen in Game Night.

 

[Chip Chipperson]

when does Bobby Cannavale sign on

 

[Holiday]

Only if they can't get Gil Faizon.


Assuming Vera is Livia, she has big shoes to fill. Nancy Marchand was wonderful.

 

[terry78]

She can handle it.

 

[James.B]

‘Sopranos’ Prequel Film Finds Young Tony: Michael Gandolfini Is Chip Off Old Block

The Sopranos creator David Chase has found his Tony Soprano. Michael Gandolfini has been set to play the future New Jersey organized crime family boss in The Many Saints of Newark.

He is the son of James Gandolfini, who originated the iconic role of Tony Soprano.

The late actor’s son has been gaining experience and had a breakout turn on the HBO drama series The Deuce. His resemblance to Tony Soprano is uncanny. The filmmakers engaged in an extensive audition process to find the young Tony before Gandolfini won the role. Insiders said that his screen presence, mastery of Tony’s mannerisms, coupled with his resemblance to the elder Gandolfini made him the standout choice for the role because no one there understood the character better, the insiders said.

“It’s a profound honor to continue my dad’s legacy while stepping into the shoes of a young Tony Soprano,” Gandolfini said in a statement to Deadline. “I’m thrilled that I’m going to have the opportunity to work with David Chase and the incredible company of talent he has assembled for The Many Saints of Newark.”

 

[terry78]

That's cool. You can kinda see it around the eyes that he looks like him.

 

[DarkKnight88]

So I’ve never seen a single episode of The Sopranos. Guess I better get on that before this comes out.

 

[Pennywise]

So I’ve never seen a single episode of The Sopranos. Guess I better get on that before this comes out.

Same!

 

[terry78]

Infidels.

 

[Drizzle]

Awesome that Gandolfini's son is an actor as well. I had no idea he was in season 2 of The Deuce either.

But back to the movie, while Livia might be who Farmiga is playing I'm really curious as to who Bernthal's character is.

 

[terry78]

Youg Paulie Walnuts.

 

[James.B]

Ray Liotta Returns To Mob Movie Fold With ‘Sopranos’ Prequel ‘The Many Saints Of Newark’

“I am thrilled to be working with David Chase and Alan Taylor on The Many Saints of Newark,” Liotta said. “David’s talent is unmatched and the directing of Alan Taylor makes this even more exciting. I respect them both immensely and look forward to making this special project with New Line.”

 

[MadVillainy]

Ray Liotta Returns To Mob Movie Fold With ‘Sopranos’ Prequel ‘The Many Saints Of Newark’

“I am thrilled to be working with David Chase and Alan Taylor on The Many Saints of Newark,” Liotta said. “David’s talent is unmatched and the directing of Alan Taylor makes this even more exciting. I respect them both immensely and look forward to making this special project with New Line.”

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh

That's cool too since he was the original choice for Tony and then Ralph

 

[Doctor Jones]

Maybe Boss Dimeo?

 

[Hurm...]

I kinda wish Tim Van Patten directed this, since he directed (and wrote) some of my favourite episodes of the show. Alan Taylor's work on the show was sometimes great as well (the Season 6 episode with "Evidently Chickentown" playing at the end was brilliant). I hope Chase is able to guide Taylor's hand a little, or at the very least, have him direct the film in a similar fashion to the show.

Glad to see Liotta is going to be in this.

Gandolfini's son, in some of the few Youtube videos with him, has a lotttt of his father's mannerisms. Very odd to watch.

 

[terry78]

Which is why he's good for the role.