The Many Saints of Newark ($12 Million Worldwide Box office)

New Line is moving ahead with its movie prequel to “The Sopranos,” hiring Alan Taylor to direct “The Many Saints Of Newark.”

New Line set up the feature film in March when it bought the script from “The Sopranos” creator David Chase.

The film is set in the 1960s in Newark, New Jersey, amid conflicts between African-American and Italian residents. Over four days of rioting in July, 1967, 26 people died and hundreds were injured in Newark.

“The Sopranos” was set in contemporary New Jersey, ran for six seasons on HBO between 1999 and 2007. The acclaimed series nabbed 21 Primetime Emmy Awards, including one for Taylor for directing.

Lawrence Konner, who worked on “The Sopranos” with Chase, is a co-writer for the project. Chase will also produce the film. Chase Films’ Nicole Lambert will serve as executive producer.

“The Many Saints Of Newark” is expected to feature younger versions of some of the characters from “The Sopranos.” James Gandolfini, the star of the series, died in 2013.

Taylor directed nine of the 86 episodes of “The Sopranos.” His other TV credits include “Game of Thrones,” “Mad Men,” “Boardwalk Empire” and “Electric Dreams.” His feature directing credits include “Thor: The Dark World” and “Terminator Genisys.”

EXCLUSIVE: 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, the feature prequel to Chase’s groundbreaking TV series The Sopranos that Alan Taylor is directing for New Line.

He is the son of James Gandolfini, who originated the iconic role of Tony Soprano and won multiple Emmys, SAG Awards and a Golden Globe in an anti-hero role that made possible later bad guy turns like Bryan Cranston’s in Breaking Bad and future HBO series including Deadwood, Westworld and Game of Thrones. He died in 2013.

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.

He joins Alessandro Nivola, Vera Farmiga, Jon Bernthal, Billy Magnussen and Corey Stoll in the ensemble drama that is set in the era of the ’60s Newark riots, when African Americans and Italians of that city were at each others throats. It was especially lethal among gangsters from each group. The story focuses on Dickie Moltisanti (Nivola), a mentor to young Tony as his own father, Johnny Boy, was grooming his son on a pathway to organized crime prominence. There are expected to be call-backs and shout-outs to numerous other series characters in the film, which is set in the earlier time period.

“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.”

The Sopranos just celebrated the 20th anniversary of its launch and is widely regarded as one of the greatest drama series ever, running six seasons from 1999-2007 and winning 21 Primetime Emmy Awards, five Golden Globes and Peabody Awards for its first two seasons.

Chase wrote the feature script with series cohort Lawrence Konner, and both are producing. Nicole Lambert (Chase Films) and Marcus Viscidi are the exec producers.

Taylor directed nine Sopranos episodes, and has done episodes of Game of Thrones also and Thor: The Dark World. He won the Emmy in 2007 for The Sopranos episode “Kennedy and Heidi.”

Rusty wrote:Damn. I know it's his old an and all, but they're some big shoes to fill.

WyldeMan wrote:

Rusty wrote:Damn. I know it's his old an and all, but they're some big shoes to fill.

I am entirely unfamiliar with Michael's work and hadn't even heard him mentioned since his father died but his casting as Little Tony intrigues me because I'd long been expecting Chase to go much younger for the prequel, more of the childhood age we saw Tony in the flashbacks from the series but this version is old enough to get up to some real shit as he learns the family business and that intrigues me even more.

Rusty wrote:I'm thinking/hoping it will be around the time of the story Ralphie told Jackie Jr of when Tony and Jackie Sr knocked over a card game, but Ralphie had to stay back because he had the clap. He always said that's what put them both on the map.

Ray Liotta is negotiating to join the cast of The Many Saints Of Newark, The Sopranos prequel film that New Line will put into production by spring. He joins Alessandro Nivola, Vera Farmiga, Jon Bernthal, Billy Magnussen, Corey Stoll, and Michael Gandolfini, latter of whom will play the Tony Soprano role originated by his late father James Gandolfini. Alan Taylor is directing.

Scripted by The Sopranos creator David Chase and Lawrence Konner, the prequel is set in the era of the Newark riots in the ’60s, when African Americans and Italian Americans in the city were at each other’s throats. That clash became lethal when it spread to gangsters of each group. Liotta’s place in mob movie history is stamped by his portrayal of Henry Hill in the Martin Scorsese-directed Goodfellas. He also grew up in Newark in the ’60s, and has a personal connection to the story.

“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.”

Liotta joining the film continues the tradition of Goodfellas cast members who appeared in the series — 27 in total including stars Lorraine Bracco, Michael Imperioli, Frank Vincent and Tony Sirico among them — but being set in The Many Saints of Newark puts Liotta in rarified territory, or at least a cool trivia question.

In Deadline’s 4-part look back for the 20th anniversary of the iconic HBO show, Joe Pantoliano recalled that when he was first offered the role of Ralph Cifaretto, HBO wasn’t going to pay his quote, and the deal didn’t work out. They cast a different actor, but when that didn’t work well, they changed their mind and Pantoliano said he was reconsidered. But only after a list of other Goodfellas actors were talked to, including Liotta. That is reminiscent of Robert De Niro and The Godfather. De Niro at one point was going to play Paulie Gatto, the driver of Don Corleone whose decision to call in sick the day the Don was gunned down by rivals, led his cold to be a fatal affliction. Because John Martino played that role, De Niro was able to play the much larger role of young Don Corleone in The Godfather Part II.

The filmmakers are keeping quiet on details for the project and the roles most actors are playing in The Many Saints of Newark, but it is known that some of the beloved characters from The Sopranos will appear in the film. The Sopranos ran six seasons and won 21 Primetime Emmys, five Golden Globes and Peabody Awards. Chase and Konner are producing The Many Saints of Newark and Chase Films’ Nicole Lambert is exec producing along with Marcus Viscidi.

Liotta most recently starred with Jennifer Lopez in the NBC drama Shades of Blue and will next be seen in Charlie Day’s directorial debut El Tonto opposite Jason Sudeikis, John Malkovich and Kate Beckinsale, and the untitled Noah Baumbach Netflix film, opposite Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver.

Warner Bros and New Line on Tuesday released the official trailer for The Many Saints of Newark, the prequel to HBO’s iconic mob drama The Sopranos. The studio just shifted the release date from September to October 1, 2021.

Alan Taylor directed the pic, which was produced and co-written by series creator David Chase.

The film, set in the era of the Newark riots in the 1960s, focuses on Dickie Moltisanti (Nivola), the father of Michael Imperioli’s original-series Christopher Moltisanti and a mentor to young Tony (Michael Gandolfini) as his own father, Johnny Boy, was grooming his son on a pathway to organized crime prominence.

Gandolfini is the son of the late Sopranos star James Gandolfini and is kicks off the trailer – along with a voice-over of his dad’s Tony Soprano.

Billy Magnussen is Paulie Walnuts, Corey Stoll is Junior Soprano and John Magaro is Silvio Dante. The cast also includes Leslie Odom Jr., Jon Bernthal, Michela De Rossi, John Magaro, Ray Liotta and Vera Farmiga.

Rusty wrote:That looks so fucking good.

Rusty wrote:I’m the same. Dickie Moltisanti is going to be interesting. It’s obvious Tony looked up to him early on.

All I’m worried about is the runtime. Hope it’s long enough.

Rusty wrote:Cool tidbit I just learned. Moltisanti is Italian for Many Saints.

WyldeMan wrote:This Sopranos has been a fucking chore, no matter how much fast forwarding through the bullshit I do, I'm still struggling to get through because it's endless.

So much pointless family drama in a sea of bullshit, season after season while we are treated to very little actual mafia activity.

The Sopranos has not really held up for me after this watch and I'm suddenly reminded why David Chase hasn't done anything else in the last 15 years.

I'm feeling much less enthusiastic about The Many Saints now....

Rusty wrote:I feel the same. I fast-forward through every Dr Melfi session (the only good ones are when Tony loses his shit), and almost every time Carmella is on screen. She becomes fucking unbearable during their first break-up where he goes and lives in the theatre room, and she never redeems herself.

Most episodes don't take longer then 20 minutes to finish. Some I might only get 5 minutes of actual TV viewing.

The upside of Saints being a movie is they it won't waste time with useless shit. It's telling one specific story, so it should be on point.

WyldeMan wrote:I finished Sopranos last night and watched Many Saints this morning.

I was expecting so much more and again Chase opted for family drama over making a gangster movie about a mob war.

I thought teenage Tony would have a much bigger role but he didn't even show up until nearly an hour into the two hour movie.

Johnny Boy, Silvio and Paulie had like three scenes in all. 

Tony hanging out at Holsten's diner where he will one day be whacked, did amuse me though.

Junior had Dickie killed just because he laughed at him???? That was it?!?! That's the whole reason Dickie died? How fuckin fuckin stupid and very David Chase. You can't get any pettier than that and Junior was apparently the Fredo of the Soprano family??? I never really got that impression on the series.

Turns out the DiMeo Crime Family was always run by fuckin idiots....

Johnny Boy shooting Livia's beehive and Dickie dying with the tv trays was about the entirely of connections between Saints to Sopranos.

The Many Saints feels like just another missed opportunity in the long line of David Chase's decisions. Ultimately for me, Saints is just another forgettable modern day drama instead of a solid new addition to the gangster genre.

Rusty wrote:I can't reply to what you're talking about, but I will say, I've tried to watch this 3 times now, and each time I get to the same point and decide I have zero fucking interest in going forward. It may be only 15 minutes or so in, and the young black kid is running for help and gets gunned down in the Army recruiting office, and I couldn't give a fuck.

I watched the show, and loved it. Nothing I've seen in this beginning matters. David Chase can cry all he wants about wanting a theatrical release, had COVID not happened, this still would have bombed. It's hard to push through. If this was a 5-6 episode mini-series, I'd be ok. But if this is his idea of a cinematic experience? Get fucked.