James Gandolfini’s death a few years ago still has lingering effect today, with his ability and resume making him one of the most accomplished actors of his era. While its sad to see that a The Sopranos film is being made without him, that film interestingly enough is a prequel of the original series called The Many Saints of Newark. With that being the case, Gandolfini’s iconic gangster Tony will make an appearance.
Who better to bring Tony to life than Gandolfini’s own blood? Well that was the thought of David Chase, who has recently casted Michael Gandolfini to play the role of young Tony in this prequel film. Here’s Michael’s response from a statement he issues to Empire Magazine:
“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’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.”
While its unlikely that Tony will have a significant role in the film, this is really cool news to see. A lot of people will cry out that this is an instance of nepotism, but Michael Gandolfini was one of hundreds of actors who auditioned for the part, so I give him all the credit. With this film to feature the likes of The Punisher’s Jon Bernthal, Vera Farmiga, and Corey Stoll, along with series creator David Chase overseeing the whole project. As a fan of the series I can’t wait to see the results.
How do you feel about this casting decision? Are you a fan of The Sopranos? Will you be watching the prequel movie? Be sure to tell us all of your thoughts in the comments section down below!