Trailer released for ‘Sopranos’ prequel, ‘Many Saints of Newark’
The film, a prequel to the HBO series “The Sopranos,” focuses on teenage Tony played by Michael Gandolfini, the son of late “Sopranos” star James Gandolfini, who died in 2013.
The trailer, which dropped on Tuesday, spotlights the young Tony and his relationship with Dickie Moltisanti (Alessandro Nivola), the father of Christopher Moltisanti, who was played by Michael Imperioli in the series.
“The Many Saints of Newark,” which recently saw its release date pushed back one week, is written by the show’s original creator, David Chase, and Lawrence Konner and directed by “Sopranos” veteran Alan Taylor. The film is set around the time of the 1967 Newark riots, during which rival gangsters challenged the powerful DiMeo crime family’s hold over the territory.
The cast also includes Leslie Odom Jr., Jon Bernthal, Corey Stoll, Billy Magnussen, Michela De Rossi, John Magaro, Ray Liotta and Vera Farmiga. Michael Gandolfini, 22, famously never even watched his dad’s legendary show until he was fittingly cast in this prequel.
The two-minute trailer opens with James Gandolfini’s narration as the older Tony says, “When I was a kid, guys like me were brought up to follow codes.” The younger Tony, standing at a phone booth, reveals his harsh temper by beating up a friend before the screen turns black.
“On the basis of the Stanford-Binet, he’s high IQ,” the guidance counselor quips.
“You can’t prove it by me, he’s got a D-plus average,” Livia says.
Dickie, played by Nivola, mentors his nephew Tony in the trailer, offering Tony some speakers as a gift — except they’re stolen. After an intense montage featuring guns and fire, Tony fears that accepting the stolen speakers will damage his shot at attending college.
“You take the speakers, right. At the same time, you say to yourself ‘This is the last time I’m ever going to steal something,’” says Dickie. “It’s that simple.”
Dickie, who struggles to manage his professional and personal responsibilities, helps mold the young Tony into the mob boss that long-time “Sopranos” fans know. The trailer alludes to Dickie’s powerful influence when he’s warned: “As far as your nephew goes … stay out of his life.”
The trailer features a cover of Bob Dylan’s “Gotta Serve Somebody,” which includes the fitting lyric, “Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord, but you’re gonna have to serve somebody.” The show’s original theme, “Woke Up This Morning” by Alabama 3, also makes a quick appearance.
The action-packed trailer was presented with the tag line, “Legends aren’t born, they’re made.”
“The Sopranos” debuted in 1999 on HBO and ran for six seasons before concluding with an infamous cut to black. James Gandolfini won three Emmys for his role as the New Jersey mob boss.
“The Many Saints of Newark” will hit theaters Oct. 1 and be on HBO Max for the month of October.
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