Sopranos Prequel, The Many Saints of Newark, Looks So Good
You can have the upcoming Lord of the Rings series. You can have House of the Dragon. I'll take the Sopranos' prequel film, The Many Saints of Newark. (It's fun to imagine having to pick.)
Tuesday, Warner Bros. released the film's trailer with a first look at many of the characters. The Many Saints of Newark will air in theaters and stream exclusively on HBO Max starting October 1.
The film is set in 1967, with the following description:
“Young Anthony Soprano is growing up in one of the most tumultuous eras in Newark’s history, becoming a man just as rival gangsters begin to rise up and challenge the all-powerful DiMeo crime family’s hold over the increasingly race-torn city. Caught up in the changing times is the uncle he idolizes, Dickie Moltisanti, who struggles to manage both his professional and personal responsibilities — and whose influence over his impressionable nephew will help make the teenager into the all-powerful mob boss we’ll later come to know: Tony Soprano.”
That voice you hear from young Tony Soprano is not old audio from the late James Gandolfini. That's his son, Michael Gandolfini, a spitting image of his father who has been cast as Tony. Michael Gandolfini will co-star with Alessandro Nivola, who portrays Dickie Moltisanti.
Dickie is Tony's idol and "hero," which is why Tony treats Dickie's son, Christopher, like his own throughout The Sopranos.
Younger versions of Johnny Soprano, Junior Soprano, Silvio Dante, Livia Soprano, Paulie Gualtieri, and Artie Bucco will also appear in the film. Look for the glasses in the trailer -- you'll find Junior.
Oh, and the market, it's back:
HBO has not released the name of Ray Liotta's character, nor have they said whether he'll be mentioned in the series.
Fourteen years ago this month, The Sopranos aired its final episode, causing some viewers to call their cable providers to claim their service cut out at the worst time imaginable. Following the anniversary, I made the case -- the strong case, some would say -- that The Sopranosis the greatest TV show of all time.
Sopranos creator David Chase wrote The Many Saints of Newark, so keep your expectations high.