‘The Sopranos’ Prequel Movie Adds ‘Hamilton’ Alum Leslie Odom Jr.
UPDATE (3/20/2019):
The latest star to join the recently retitled Sopranos film, Newark, is Hamilton’s Leslie Odom Jr. in a yet-to-be-revealed role.
Odom Jr. is set to play a key part in the story, according to Deadline, as the film takes place during the Newark riots in the ’60s which occurred between African Americans and Italians living in the area at the time. While the character remains a mystery, it’s been said that he’ll be directly involved in a conflict with Nivola’s Dickie Moltisanti (Christopher’s father).
UPDATE (2/27/2019):
Another big name has joined the upcoming Sopranos prequel movie, The Many Saints of Newark: Ray Liotta.
The news, via Deadline, comes as a pleasant surprise considering the actor’s extensive background in mob movies having starred in the ultimate classic Goodfellas.
Of his new gig, Liotta said, “I am thrilled to be working with David Chase and Alan Taylor on The Many Saints of Newark. 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 isn’t the first Goodfellas actor to appear in The Sopranos universe either. Series stars Lorraine Bracco, Michael Imperioli, Frank Vincent, and Tony Sirico had all appeared in film in various roles.
UPDATE (1/22/2019):
The Sopranos prequel movie, The Many Saints of Newark, has found its young Tony Soprano — and the casting couldn’t be more perfect.
Deadline reports that Michael Gandolfini, the son of the late James Gandolfini, will take on the younger version of the role his father iconically originated. The 19-year-old actor, who recently appeared on HBO’s The Deuce, will play the teenage Tony before he became a New Jersey crime boss.
According to the site, show creator David Chase and the other filmmakers chose the younger Gandolfini after an extensive audition process. He is said to have impressed them with not only his physical resemblance to his dad, but also his ability to mirror Tony’s mannerisms and screen presence, and his overall understanding of the character.
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“It’s a profound honor to continue my dad’s legacy while stepping into the shoes of a young Tony Soprano,” Gandolfini told Deadline in a statement. “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.”
UPDATE (1/15/2019):
Another day, another Sopranos prequel casting update!
The movie, titled The Many Saints of Newark, is welcoming aboard Corey Stoll and Billy Magnussen according to Variety who broke the news. Viewers may recognize Stoll from TV gigs on House of Cards, The Romanoffs and The Strain or his recent role as Buzz Aldrin opposite Ryan Gosling in First Man.
Tell Me a Story‘s Billy Magnussen is slated to appear in Disney’s upcoming live-action Aladdin and starred in the Netflix limited series Maniac alongside Jonah Hill and Emma Stone.
ORIGINAL STORY (1/14/2019):
The cast of the upcoming Sopranos prequel movie, The Many Saints of Newark, is filling up its cast with two new additions.
Before Monday, New Line’s upcoming project had only cast one star: Alessandro Nivola (The Wizard of Lies), who will take on the role of Dickie Moltisanti — Christopher’s (Michael Imperioli) father. Now, the big screen project has added Marvel’s The Punisher and Walking Dead star Jon Bernthal, alongside Bates Motel alum Vera Farmiga, Variety reports.
No word has been released about the roles Bernthal or Farmiga will play at this time but fans should anticipate the use of many characters from the Soprano universe. The Many Saints of Newark follows the riots that took place in the New Jersey city during the ’60s.
The film is being co-written by The Sopranos creator David Chase and producer Lawrence Konner, so it’ll likely contain many throwbacks to its series inspiration. Meanwhile, Alan Taylor — who directed a handful of episodes during the show’s run — is attached to direct the project, and Nicole Lambert and Marcus Viscidi will serve as executive producers.
This news comes days before the Season 2 premiere of Bernthal’s Netflix series Marvel’s The Punisher. He also recently reprised his role as Shane in The Walking Dead‘s ninth season.
Farmiga is slated to appear in Netflix’s upcoming drama Central Park Five. She wrapped her run in Bates Motel in 2017 and appeared in Amazon Prime Video’s Philip K. Dick’s Electric Dreams in 2018.
