How could anyone play the younger version of one of the most iconic characters ever to grace the bog or small screen? James Gandolfini’s Tony Soprano not only redefined the presentation of a very overdone trope, he helped establish the legitimacy and power of the fledgeling streaming service HBO, paving the way for modern television as we know it. The hugely anticipated movie prequel, The Many Saints of Newark has slowly started to build up an impressive cast, lead by Alessandro Nivola, but now we finally know who will play the younger Tony.
Teenager Michael Gandolfini has been announced in the role.
Does the name sound familiar? Of course it does, since the 19-year-old is the only son of James and his first wife, Marcy Wudarski.
Michael shared the news this week: “It’s a profound honour to continue my dad’s legacy while stepping into the shoes of a young Tony Soprano.
“I’m thrilled that I am 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.”
Michael joins a pedigree cast which includes Nivola as Dickie Moltisanti, the father of the show’s Christopher Moltisanti (Michael Imperioli). Vera Farmiga, Jon Bernthal, Billy Magnussen and Corey Stoll also star.
With the principals in place, production on The Many Saints of Newark is expected to begin later this year.
As the legendary show celebrates its 20th anniversary this month, it is fitting that its director Alan Taylor on board to direct the movie with the original writers David Chase and Lawrence Konner writing the script.
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The Many Saints of Newark will be set in 1967 during the Newark riots, a notorious race riot in New Jersey. Livia was seen watching them on the TV during one of The Soprano’s flashbacks.
Chase said: “I was interested in Newark and life in Newark at that time. I used to go 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.
“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.”
It could not be more fitting that the ‘kid’ will be played by Gandolfini’s own son.