News

Despite being its most obvious inspiration, Martin Scorsese reportedly did not like The Sopranos because of all the New Jersey trees in the show. The HBO crime drama, created by David Chase and starring Michael Gandolfini, followed Tony Soprano, the head of the crime family in New Jersey, and his everyday life. It covered not only his criminal activities but also his home life and mental health.

Chase has credited Scorsese’s Goodfellas multiple times for inspiring the show, but the filmmaker reportedly did not take to the New Jersey setting. Scorsese rejected the series, claiming that he did not understand the life Chase was trying to depict (via THR).

I think I only saw one episode … because I can’t identify with that generation of the underworld. They live in New Jersey with the big houses? I don’t get it. They use language – four-letter words – in front of their daughters,...

There’s no denying that Breaking Bad dominates the television scene. Vince Gilligan’s story about a chemistry teacher becoming a meth kingpin is the stuff of TV legend. But let’s pump the brakes for a second.

Before Breaking Bad even existed, The Sopranos had already redefined what television could be. David Chase’s mob saga wasn’t just ahead of its time; it helped create the golden age of TV as we know it. And in more than a few ways, it edges past the Bryan Cranston-led show.

Yes, both shows explore crime, power, and moral collapse, but The Sopranos brings a level of psychological depth and dark humor that hits differently. Even celebrities like Ben Affleck and Jon Bernthal prefer The Sopranos over Breaking Bad because of this. It’s not just about plot twists or intense standoffs. It’s about character studies, haunting silences, and...

HBO has produced many crime series, but The Sopranosstands above the rest as the most honest portrayal of the Mafia. Considered to be one of the most groundbreaking TV series of all time, some believe David Chase's modern-day organized crime epic changed the face of modern television.

The Sopranos was a dominant ratings force on HBO, with the season 4 premiere garnering a series high of 13.43 million viewers. The series was also critically lauded, currently holding a 92% fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes. The Sopranos won 25 Emmy Awards across its six-season run, including for Outstanding Drama Series.

According to Michael Franzese, a former member of the Colombo crime family,The Sopranos is the most consistently accurate account of life in the mob on television. A YouTube video titled "The Sopranos - Reviewed by Former Mafia Capo Michael Franzese" compares his former life in the mob to the depiction of the mob in The Sopranos.

Vincent Pastore is an Italian American television and stage actor best known for his roles as Salvatore “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero in HBO’s The Sopranos, Al in Mickey Blue Eyes, and Nick Valenti in the Broadway musical Bullets Over Broadway. His work in The Sopranos earned him the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series in 2000.

Vincent Pastore Biography: Age, Early Life, Education, Family

Pastore was born on July 14, 1946 (Vincent Pastore age: 78) in the Bronx, New York, and grew up in New Rochelle, New York. After graduating from high school, he enlisted as a sailor in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War. He was in the club business for about 30 years before deciding to attend Pace University in 1967 for three years, after which he pursued acting, thanks to his close friends Matt Dillon and Kevin Dillon.

Vincent Pastore Biography: Career

In an exclusive interview with uInterview,...

Alison Brie (Community, Glow) is set to star in FX’s as-yet-untitled witness protection pilot, Deadline reports.

In the potential drama, “a violent confrontation drives a high-end D.C. madam (played by Brie) to turn on her partner and enter witness protection in seaside Maine with her adolescent daughter,” according to the official logline.

More from TVLineEvery New Scripted Show Confirmed to Premiere in 2025 — Save the Dates!What to Watch in July: Your Guide to 170+ Premieres Across Broadcast, Cable and StreamingBella Ramsey to Star in UK Witness Protection Drama Maya

The series is based on a previously unproduced script by Sopranos mastermind David Chase.

Communitystar Alison Brie is heading into Witness Protection in a new television pilot.

Per Deadline, Brie has signed on to lead an untitled Witness Protection pilot from Hannah Fidell and Clipped executive producer Gina Welch. Welch will serve as co-showrunner and writer, as well as executive producer on the series, while Fidell will serve as co-showrunner and director. Previously, David Chase was attached to the project in the same roles, but stepped back in order to shoot a feature film at the beginning of 2026 instead.

The pilot is being produced through FX Productions, and is being based on a previously unproduced script from David Chase. Per a description of the Witness Protection pilot, "a violent confrontation drives a high-end D.C. Madam to turn on her partner and enter witness protection in seaside Maine with her adolescent daughter." There are currently no details about who will be starring in the pilot alongside Brie,...

Alison Brie will take the lead role in a pilot for a new FX drama set in the world of witness protection from Hannah Fidell and Gina Welch.

The official logline for the untitled pilot states, “A violent confrontation drives a high-end DC madame (Brie) to turn on her partner and enter witness protection in seaside Maine with her adolescent daughter.” Fidell and Welch serve as writers, executive producers, and co-showrunners. Fidell will also direct.

The project was first announced more than two years ago. The creator of The Sopranos, David Chase, was initially attached as co-creator and executive producer. The pilot was based on one of his previously unproduced scripts, which Fidell had given a contemporary rewrite. However, this latest report states that Chase has exited the project due to scheduling conflicts.

Related Together: Dave Franco, Alison Brie body horror film unveils a clip and poster

Brie will next star alongside her real-life husband,...

Alison Brie is set for the lead role in an FX drama pilot that hails from Hannah Fidell and Gina Welch.

The official logline states, “A violent confrontation drives a high-end DC madame (Brie) to turn on her partner and enter witness protection in seaside Maine with her adolescent daughter.”

The project was first announced in March 2023 with a pilot commitment. At the time, David Chase was attached as co-creator and executive producer, as the show was based on one of Chase’s previously unproduced scripts of which Fidell had written a contemporary take. According to an individual with knowledge of the situation, Chase exited the project due to scheduling conflicts with a film he is prepping.

Fidell and Welch serve as writers, executive producers, and co-showrunners. Fidell will also direct. Nicole Lambert of Riverain Pictures remains onboard as an executive producer. FX Productions is the studio.

Brie earned strong...

Alison Brie has been cast as the lead of FX’s Untitled Witness Protection pilot from Hannah Fidell and Gina Welch (Clipped), who joins as co-showrunner, writer and executive producer. David Chase was previously attached, but has stepped back because he is prepping to shoot a new movie at the top of next year.

Fidell will direct the pilot, and Nicole Lambert of Riverain Pictures will executive produce.

As Deadline shared, the project is based on a previously unproduced script by Chase and will feature a contemporary take. FX Productions will produce the pilot.

In the Untitled Witness Protection pilot, a violent confrontation drives a high-end D.C. madam to turn on her partner and enter witness protection in seaside Maine with her adolescent daughter.

Related: ‘Very Young Frankenstein’ Series From Mel Brooks & ‘What We Do In The Shadows’ Team Nears FX Pilot Order

Brie is a SAG...

The Sopranos changed television. The series put HBO on the map alongside Sex and the City, and it is still regarded as one of the best shows to have ever made. Part of that is because of the cast, which included Dominic Chianese as Corrado "Uncle Junior" Soprano in the series. And in a recent interview with People, the now 94-year-old actor and singer shared that he thought the show was, at first, a comedy. And in his defense, Paulie Walnuts (Tony Sirico) is one of the funniest characters to ever exist on television.

“I said, ‘This is crazy, but this must be a comedy,’” he told the publication. "But I realized it wasn’t a comedy, and it was about the mafia. It was so way out, so I just read the scene like it was a comedy, and [Sopranos creator] David Chase giggled, and he said, ‘Can you come back tomorrow?...

The Sopranos is one of the greatest television shows ever. But one series starring Wendell Pierce as the iconic Detective Bunk Moreland, The Wire, is not far behind, and in fact ranks higher than the mob drama on Rotten Tomatoes. Set in Baltimore, this HBO drama also hides a surprising cameo that many may have forgotten.

In episode seven of the fifth season of The Wire, Law & Order star Richard Belzer made a blink-and-you’ll miss-it appearance as John Munch, a character he has reprised across several crossover episodes across the world of crime drama television. This surprising cameo not only broadened the actor’s appeal but also connected The Wire to the broader television universe.

Richard Belzer’s Detective John Munch Had a Cameo in The Wire Richard Belzer’s John Munch in The Wire | Credits: HBO

The Wire, created by David Simon for HBO, is widely hailed...

The Sopranos had an ambiguous ending, with the series’ lead antihero, Tony Soprano, hinting at being assassinated. But we never see the death as the scene cuts to black amidst a set of random shots of Tony waiting for his family in a diner. There have been clues hidden throughout the show to indicate why creator David Chase chose to end with a cut to black.

While most believe the black at the end meant that Tony was killed, what seals the deal is a hint given by the character Bobby Baccalieri a few episodes ago before his own death. The character, whose death is one of the saddest in the series, mentions in a fishing trip to Tony that their death might be so silent that they would not even hear it happen. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?

Bobby Baccala’s Statement About Death Hinted at Tony Soprano’s...

Alex Gibney is known for exposés about Enron, CIA torture tactics and the cult of Scientology. For his sanity’s sake, sometimes he needs to make a movie about Paul Simon or Frank Sinatra or The Sopranos. The latter manifested as 2024’s Wise Guy: David Chase and The Sopranos. Using HBO’s archives, creator Chase’s personal effects, interviews with the cast and writers and a replica of Dr. Melfi’s therapy office, Gibney and his team pieced together a moving tribute to the most important television show of the past 30 years.

What made you say yes?

I was asked to do it, and I wondered, “Do I want to do it?” I love The Sopranos, but I didn’t want to make a Wikipedia entry. Then I met David Chase, and I found him to be such a fascinating character. I thought, “Wouldn’t it be interesting to...

It's almost 18 years after the final episode aired, and yet somehow, there are an unfortunate bunch who still haven't seen a single episode of "The Sopranos." We get it. Perhaps given the universal acclaim, the life (and maybe death?) of Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) is a bit daunting. What if you finally sit down to watch what many deem the greatest television show ever made and think you don't like it? What if it suffers from that classic ailment of "taking a few episodes before it gets good"? Well, worry not; after thoughtful consideration and mountains of gabagool, we've carefully picked a quintet of ideal episodes from David Chase's television masterpiece that will make you realize nothing is more important than family and dreams about talking fish.

From brutal moments of treachery to brilliantly funny standalone episodes, these are five extra-special chapters of what became a staple of storytelling...

It’s been 25 years since The Sopranos debuted, and arguably no drama has had more of a lasting impact on how modern series are made. It’s that legacy that Oscar- and Emmy-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney sought to unpack in his two-part Max documentary Wise Guy: David Chase and the Sopranos, which is contending in the upcoming Emmy Awards. Gibney brings his famously well-honed interview and research skills to exploring the show as well as the man behind it, creator-writer-director — and “Master Cylinder,” as we learn the cast referred to him — David Chase.

“To be able to look back, it was kind of past as prologue,” Gibney tells Gold Derby. “I learned some things about the making of the show that I just didn't know. ... That's what you go into this for. That's why I do what I do.”

The first part of the documentary explores the show’s origin story,...

Look what’s growing in the Garden State.

The Hollywood Reporter was on-site Tuesday morning when Netflix broke ground on its new East Coast home, Netflix Studios Fort Monmouth in central New Jersey. (Yes, there is a central New Jersey.) The gigantic renovation project — in which Netflix will turn a long-abandoned U.S. Army base into a dozen soundstages, a backlot, state-of-the-art postproduction facilities, general office space and basically 500,000 square feet of all things Netflix — was brought to you by one thing: tax credits.

You might want to take some notes here, California.

Before a wrecking ball even thrice ceremoniously slammed into some random, already-crumbling decommissioned military building (we were provided with hard hats, thank you for your concern), and before the pork roll, egg and cheese sandwiches were handed out to guests in attendance, including The Sopranos creator David Chase, Netflix had seven productions currently filming in New Jersey. In the coming years,...

One of the little ongoing mysteries in "The Sopranos" concerns Tony Soprano's finances: Exactly how much money does this guy make?

For the characters within the show, this question is important because it shows the obvious hole in Tony's cover story. How could a "waste management consultant" own all of these impressive material possessions? For viewers at home, it's important because it helps us wonder about the dynamics between Tony and the rest of his crew. How is Tony's house so much nicer than the other mob guys' houses? It makes sense after season 1 when Tony's the clear boss of the crew, but in the beginning, Tony is merely another capo serving under Jackie Aprile, Sr., played by Michael Rispoli. We know Tony's a strong earner, which is how he's able to get the top spot in the first place, but is he so much of a good earner...

Cited as one of the true game-changers in television history and maybe the greatest show in the history of the medium, it’s hard to find someone who straight-up hates The Sopranos. But there is one prestige name that wouldn’t have minded seeing the show sent to long term parking. No, not Daniel Radcliffe but rather Martin Scorsese, who it turns out has zero appreciation for The Sopranos.

Martin Scorsese’s disinterest in The Sopranos is well-documented, but David Chase offered some elaboration on what kept the director from ever seeking a second opinion. “Marty Scorsese doesn’t like the show. He said, ‘I don’t get it’ – it’s like all these trees and sh*t…It’s very simple. He grew up in New York in Little Italy, and there is Five Families organized crime there. That’s what he depicted. I grew up in New Jersey...

Martin Scorsese is not a fan of The Sopranos.

That intel come from Sopranos creator David Chase himself, who appears on The Hollywood Reporter‘s It Happened in Hollywood podcast along with filmmaker Alex Gibney, director of the 2024 doc Wise Guy: David Chase and The Sopranos.

In the doc, Chase says, “Marty Scorsese doesn’t like the show. He said, ‘I don’t get it – it’s like all these trees and shit.’”

Chase goes on to postulate that the Goodfellas director couldn’t identify with a mafia epic told in the sprawling, wooded suburbs of New Jersey, as opposed to one set in the urban jungles of New York City, where Scorsese grew up.

On the podcast, I bring up the moment, asking Chase, “Was [Scorsese] really not a fan of The Sopranos? Did he ever go on the record to say that?”

“Yes, he did,” Chase replies.

Scorsese said...

Remember Robert Iler from The Sopranos? The former child actor is most notable for his portrayal of A.J. Soprano, the son of Carmela and Tony Soprano and the younger brother of Meadow Soprano. He played this for almost a decade, and unfortunately, it took a toll on him that he decided to quit acting.

The show was one of the most successful HBO franchises, and the pressure to maintain that quality had its effect on the actors, particularly Iler. He was only 12 years old when he shot the pilot episode, and he spent a huge chunk of his teenage life working on television.

What happened to Robert Iler after The Sopranos ended? Robert Iler in The Sopranos / Credits: HBO

After Robert Iler’s stint in The Sopranos, fans have never seen him in any show or movie as he decided to leave acting altogether. What could have made him...

The Sopranos is no stranger to shocking deaths, whether it be Christopher Moltisanti or Sal Bonpensiero’s demise, and one thing common among them is that they’re greatly executed on-screen. However, one crucial death in the show has often been criticized for being a literal mess, which is unlike anything the show had offered during its six-year-long dominance on the small screen.

The Sopranos | Credit: HBO

But given David Chase’s history with the show, beneath the rather unsatisfying death, which ruffled a few feathers, it seems the showrunner’s decision to make Jackie Aprile Jr’s death unappealing might have been the point.

Jackie Aprile Jr’s death encapsulates his pathetic existence Jackie Jr.’ in The Sopranos| Credit: HBO

It’s not hard to see why viewers were initially disappointed by Jackie Aprile Jr’s demise, as in contrast to other deaths in the show, his death feels rushed,...

Andor has always been more than a gritty Star Wars prequel. It’s a slow-burning, politically charged character study that explores what people are willing to sacrifice for the sake of rebellion. As Season 2 picks up pace, it’s becoming increasingly clear that emotional casualties might hit just as hard as physical ones.

While fans have braced themselves for the inevitable demise of beloved characters, Episode 6 throws a gut punch that doesn’t just mark a turning point, it casts a shadow over what lies ahead. As the rebellion intensifies, the personal stakes for Cassian and those closest to him have never felt more uncertain.

Cinta’s death was a blow and a warning

From the deaths of Brasso to Cinta, the show makes it clear that the Rebellion’s fight demands sacrifices, and no character is safe. What’s striking is how this pattern is being laid out for the entire ensemble.

In an era where many shows bend to audience demand or studio pressure, The Sopranos stood out for doing the exact opposite. Its creator, David Chase, built a legacy not just through compelling storytelling, but by holding onto a creative principle most showrunners wouldn’t dare flirt with. The idea that this could all end tomorrow. It wasn’t just a mindset; it was a safeguard against compromise.

Instead of chasing approval or diluting the show’s tone for broader appeal, Chase doubled down on the integrity of the narrative. The moment The Sopranos started gaining massive popularity, he realized the real threat wasn’t cancellation, it was the temptation to cater. And that, in his view, would be the beginning of the end.

David Chase refused to pander

For David Chase, success brought a strange kind of clarity. He knew the bigger The Sopranos got, the easier it would be to start pandering.

Jon Bernthal and Ben Affleck came together for a sequel to The Accountant, and the film is receiving some good reviews from critics and fans alike. Affleck, who earlier donned Dceu’s Batman role, and Bernthal, best known for MCU’s Punisher, play brothers in the film that ups the stakes from its prequel.

During a promotional interview, Affleck and Bernthal discussed their ‘greatest-of-all-time’ show. They both agreed on one show that is at the top of their list. It was David Chase’s mafia-based series The Sopranos, starring the late James Gandolfini. We also got to know what shows these two actors had next on their Goat list.

Ben Affleck and Jon Bernthal’s Goat show #1 is The Sopranos James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano in The Sopranos | Credits: HBO

Ben Affleck and Jon Bernthal appeared in a fun session with Complex where they had the ‘Goat talk’, discussing what...

There’s a new biography in the market about The Sopranos lead star James Gandolfini, and it brings up some of his old stories from his film and TV sets. In Jason Bailey’s Gandolfini: Jim, Tony, and the Life of a Legend, the author mentioned Gandolfini’s old scuffle with Denzel Washington on the set of their 1995 movie, Crimson Tide.

The biography shared a report from that time, which suggested that the Enough Said actor got aggressive with Washington during one scene. However, the two actors quickly became friends on the set after that incident.

The film was a submarine action thriller directed by Tony Scott, focusing on the clash between a commanding officer and his new executive officer. The roles were played by Gene Hackman and Washington. Gandolfini played Supply Officer Lt. Bobby Dougherty in the film.

What went down between The Sopranos actor James Gandolfini and Denzel Washington on the film set?...

“The Sopranos” creator David Chase almost passed on casting James Gandolfini in the lead role because the late actor didn’t seem “threatening enough” to play mob boss Tony Soprano.

In an excerpt published by Vulture of Jason Bailey’s book “Gandolfini: Jim, Tony, and the Life of a Legend,” Gandolfini’s former manager, Nancy Sanders, remembered how Chase was hesitant to offer Gandolfini the role.

“I went, ‘Oh my God, I think I have Tony Soprano,’” Sanders said. However, Chase allegedly told Sanders at the time, “I have one concern, and that is, is he threatening enough?”

IndieWire has reached out to representatives for Chase and HBO.

Sanders recalled telling Chase at the time, “David, if your only concern is, ‘Is he threatening enough’…If you said to me, ‘He’s a little chubby,’ or ‘He’s losing his hair,’ I could understand. But he’s threatening enough. This is your guy.

The late James Gandolfini made Tony Soprano one of the most iconic characters in television history, but he almost missed out on the role due to a specific concern from the show’s creator, David Chase. In Jason Bailey’s new biography about the beloved actor, Gandolfini: Jim, Tony, and the Life of a Legend, an excerpt of which was published by Vulture, the author and historian shares details of The Sopranos casting process, which includes a story from Nancy Sanders, one of Gandolfini’s managers. After reading the script for the HBO pilot, Sanders recalled, “I went, ‘Oh my God, I think I have Tony Soprano.'” She then called Chase, who told her, “He sounds familiar. I’m totally into having this conversation with you, but I may not remember it. Call me tomorrow morning and send me the VHS.” Sanders sent Gandolfini’s tape to Chase, and...

James Gandolfini only had a few minor film credits and only two television credits (one in a made-for-tv movie), before snagging the role of Tony Soprano in The Sopranos. An actor with no major roles rarely hits the jackpot with a starring role on television. However, Gandolfini beat the odds and became one of the most recognizable faces on the small screen from 1999-2007. Yet, it took some convincing before The Sopranos creator, David Chase, knew he'd found the series' leading guy. It stands out that Chase acknowledged that the actor wasn't lacking in the talent category; it was all about whether he was "threatening enough."

When Gandolfini's agent contacted the creator, he watched the actor's reel, and called the agent back with one concern. Coming courtesy of Vulture, Chase said:

"I think he's brilliant. I have one concern, and that is, 'Is he threatening enough?'"

If you've watched The Sopranos,...

James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano is widely regarded as an example of perfect casting, making it impossible for fans of The Sopranos to imagine any other actor in the role. However, series creator David Chase was reluctant to go forward with the casting for a surprising reason.

The story of Gandolfini almost missing out on The Sopranos was shared in the new book Gandolfini: Jim, Tony, and the Life of a Legend by Jason Bailey. An excerpt from the book, published by Vulture, includes a passage about how Gandolfini's manager, Nancy Sanders, suggested the actor after reading the script for The Sopranos. When Chase questioned if Gandolfini was "threatening enough" to play the mafia boss, Sanders assured him that this wouldn't be a problem.

“Oh my God, I think I have Tony Soprano,” Sanders felt when reading the script.

Upon watching Gandolfini's acting reel, Chase is said to have responded,...

Before The Sopranos revolutionized television and forever reshaped antihero dramas into a cultural phenomenon, its creator, David Chase, apparently wasn’t too happy about actually seeing it aired, at least not right away. In a candid interview, the artistic director admitted that his original plan for the iconic HBO series wasn’t about making history. It was about making more money.

HBO, at that time, was still testing the waters with original scripted content. The network was yet to deliver a truly genre-defining drama, and The Sopranos, for the most part, looked like a risky gamble – a dark, violent story about a mobster in therapy.

Chase, who had a background in network television and had grown disillusioned with traditional storytelling formats, wasn’t convinced HBO would greenlight the series but aimed to churn out more money to fuel his filmmaking ambition.

David Chase’s secret scheme: how the Sopranos director...

The Sopranos creator David Chase once questioned whether James Gandolfini had the right presence to portray the troubled mob boss Tony Soprano, according to a new book excerpt. Jason Bailey’s Gandolfini: Jim, Tony, and the Life of a Legend explores the casting process that ultimately led to one of television’s most iconic performances.

Nancy Sanders, one of Gandolfini’s managers, recalled in the excerpt that after reading the pilot script for The Sopranos, she immediately thought of Gandolfini for the role. “I went, ‘Oh my God, I think I have Tony Soprano,’” Sanders said. However, Chase expressed a hesitation after reviewing Gandolfini’s acting reel.

“Alright, here’s the deal,” Chase told Sanders. “I think he’s brilliant. I have one concern, and that is: Is he threatening enough?” Sanders, surprised by the comment, responded with confidence. “David, if your only concern is is he threatening enough… If you said to me,...

David Chase wasn’t initially sold on James Gandolfini playing Tony Soprano in The Sopranos because he thought he wasn’t “threatening enough.”

In an excerpt from Jason Bailey’s new book Gandolfini: Jim, Tony, and the Life of a Legend, Bailey recounted the casting process for the coveted part. After reading the script for the HBO pilot, Nancy Sanders, one of his Gandolfini’s managers, knew he was perfect for the role.

“I went, ‘Oh my God, I think I have Tony Soprano,’” she remembered in the excerpt published by Vulture. While the show’s creator thought Gandolfini was “brilliant,” he told Sanders he had one doubt in casting him for the part: “I have one concern, and that is, is he threatening enough?”

The manager was taken aback by his concern and assured him that Gandolfini was surely “threatening enough” to play the mafia mobster.

“David, if your...

If things had gone differently, it could’ve been someone else leading the cast of “The Sopranos.” But luckily, series creator David Chase didn’t stick with his hasty first reaction to James Gandolfini.

In an excerpt from Jason Bailey’s book “Gandolfini: Jim, Tony, and the Life of a Legend” (via Vulture), Chase worried that Gandolfini wasn’t “threatening enough,” before ultimately casting him in the career-defining role.

During the show’s development, Gandolfini’s manager, Nancy Sanders, told Chase, “I think I have Tony Soprano.” Chase wasn’t immediately convinced.

“All right, here’s the deal,” Chase told Sanders after checking out Gandolfini’s reel. “I think he’s brilliant. I have one concern, and that is, is he threatening enough?”

Sanders stood up for her client, quickly quieting Chase’s concerns, “If you said to me, ‘He’s a little chubby,’ or ‘He’s losing his hair,...

James Gandolfini wasn’t well known when he landed the part of Tony Soprano on the HBO series “The Sopranos,” and the show’s creator David Chase wasn’t completely sold on the casting when the actor’s agent contacted him. After Chase watched the actor’s reel, he called back and asked, “I think he’s brilliant. I have one concern, and that is, Is he threatening enough?”

“David, if your only concern is is he threatening enough,” Nancy Sanders replied. “If you said to me, ‘He’s a little chubby,’ or ‘He’s losing his hair,’ I could understand. But he’s threatening enough. This is your guy.”

The conversation was recorded in the new book “Gandolfini: Jim, Tony, and the Life of a Legend,” an excerpt of which was shared by Vulture Friday. “In the movie version of The Sopranos, I thought about Robert De Niro,” Chase also explained.

More than 25 years later, it seems impossible to imagine anyone other than James Gandolfini in the role of Tony Soprano.

But The Sopranos creator David Chase was initially worried the actor wasn’t “threatening enough” to play the mafia boss in the acclaimed HBO drama series that ran for six seasons from 1999 to 2007, according to an excerpt from Jason Bailey’s Gandolfini: Jim, Tony, and the Life of a Legend.

“Oh my God, I think I have Tony Soprano,” Gandolfini’s manager Nancy Sanders recalled after reading the script in the excerpt shared by Vulture.

“All right, here’s the deal,” Chase told her after watching Gandolfini’s reel. “I think he’s brilliant. I have one concern, and that is, Is he threatening enough?”

Sanders quickly shut down that thinking. “If you said to me, ‘He’s a little chubby,’ or ‘He’s losing his hair,’ I could understand.

When you wind up becoming one of the best characters in David Chase's "The Sopranos," it's understandable if you'd want to keep a low profile from fans who either loved or hated you stopping you in the street. For Joe Pantoliano, who played Ralph Cifaretto on the show, that proved all the more difficult given that he lived around where "The Sopranos" was set. In an effort to dodge such a situation, though, the actor had the bright idea of getting hold of a wig he could wear out and about, modeled from one of the then up-and-coming movie makers, Christopher Nolan.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Pantoliano spoke about his illustrious career, with his time on "The Sopranos" being a particular highlight. To keep hold of his anonymity, he looked to the director he'd worked with on "Memento," which was released in 2000 and still stands as...

Aired between 1999 and 2007 on HBO, The Sopranos has become a landmark in television history, often hailed as the show that redefined modern TV drama. The storyline was intricate with a New Jersey mob boss, Tony Soprano – played by James Gandolfini – taking the center stage.

But what made the series super successful was its attention to detail and well-crafted script. Tony isn’t your typical gangster-gangster. He is a middle-aged man seeking therapy, trying to deal with the personal and professional pressures of running a criminal empire.

Within a short span, the series became a massive hit with a cult following even today, 16 years after its last season. However, The Sopranos received an ambiguous ending, despite HBO offering more money to continue. David Chase voluntarily chose to end the series and was indifferent towards the cancellation, contrasting sharply with Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner’s emotional response.

The Sopranos showrunner David...

The Sopranos blew the doors off what TV could be. It set the standard for prestige drama, something that, in all honesty, has been quite hard to beat, or even match. Before The Sopranos, networks enjoyed their safety, comfort, and the tried and tested formula for success. Why fix what’s not broke? Things could have very well remained the same – a good ol’ mix of happy endings, clean-cut heroes, and nobody rocking the boat.

The medium would eventually get its breakout anti-hero, with a fair bit of agita. Tony Soprano kicked the door open for every great show that followed: Breaking Bad, Mad Men, Game of Thrones, all of it. The Peabody Awards took notice early, awarding its first two seasons back-to-back – an honor shared only by Northern Exposure and The West Wing.

It’s been almost two decades since The Sopranos infamously cut to black in its finale,...

As "Severance" wraps its second season for Apple+, traumatized theorists and shippers on deck slip into the familiar rhythms of the long wait for new adventures in Lumon's cultish underbelly. Scenes will be inspected for clues that might lead us astray, dialogue pored over for foreshadowing we missed the first time around, and fan artists will fill their sketchbooks with motion studies Mr. Milchick's (Tramell Tillman) fantastic yet eerie turn as a marching band leader.

But at least we know we're going to get that future season. Other fans are sometimes not that lucky. Or their luck lands them a finale with curves so far out of left field that there's nothing to do but argue over it. For months. The months become years. Sometimes the years become decades. And yet the fandom argues. It's not a new phenomena, since fans have found things to argue about in fiction for centuries.

It was always in the cards for Roman Reigns to enter professional wrestling and the WWE. Soon, he’ll realize his other family’s (manifest) destiny. Reigns told Vanity Fair that his current WWE contract expires after WrestleMania 2026, and not long after that, he’s going to Hollywood.

“After I finish the contract that I’m in, we probably got another year or two max,” Reigns said. “Then it’s time to take on a less physical form of entertainment.”

Reigns (real name Joseph Anoa’i) entered the family business — his Uncle Rocky Johnson and cousins Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Jimmy and Jey Uso, Solo Sikoa, Yokozuna and Rikishi were or are all breakouts stars in the WWF/E — in 2010. The next 15 years made him an all-time great, but the career brought with it a ton of bumps. The human body, even one billed at 6’3″ and 265 pounds of muscle, can only tolerate so much.

Prolific documentarian and HBO nonfiction lodestar Alex Gibney’s last project for the premium cable network was Wise Guy: David Chase and the Sopranos. The 2024 two-parter was a puppy dog-eager piece of fan service in which Gibney was the biggest fan of all, peppering David Chase and much of the surviving cast of The Sopranos with all of his questions. It was, in the grand scheme of things, perhaps Gibney’s least urgent or essential project to date, but it was light on its feet and, if anything, the rare HBO documentary that felt too short.

It could be argued that, in our current political moment, Gibney’s two-film docuseries The Dark Money Game might be one of his most essential projects, a rudimentary history lesson that you’ve probably already learned elsewhere, not that it hurts to be reminded. It’s also sloppily edited, aesthetically uninspired and frequently tedious...

Why Was Edie Falco’s Carmela Soprano Missing From The Many Saints Of Newark? (Photo Credit – Prime Video/Wikipedia)

The Many Saints of Newark had a surprise waiting in its cutting room: Carmela Soprano from The Sopranos. Edie Falco suited up as Tony Soprano’s sharp-tongued wife for the film’s original opening scene. But just before the final cut, her entire moment got shelved. Director Alan Taylor spilled the behind-the-scenes tea that Carmela was in the picture until she wasn’t.

The throwback bombshell dropped during Taylor’s chat with NME, where he admitted that The Sopranos legend made it all the way back to set. “We had Edie come in and she dressed up as Carmela and we shot something with her and it wound up not being in the final movie but it was a great excuse to see her again,” he said (via Cheat Sheet). He also added,...

HBO on Monday unveiled premiere dates for a pair of Alex Gibney documentaries falling under the double-bill title The Dark Money Game. Ohio Confidential debuts Tuesday, April 15 at 9 p.m. Et/Pt, and Wealth of the Wicked premieres Wednesday, April 16 at the same time. Both films will be available to stream on April 15.

The Dark Money Game investigates the shadowy world of political donations and fundraising 15 years after the Supreme Court’s Citizen’s United decision, which enabled unlimited spending by hidden sources on political campaigns. Inspired by Jane Mayer’s book Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right, the project features interviews with journalists including Mayer, as well as lawmakers, judges, FBI investigators, whistleblowers and insiders on both sides of the issue. Through two separate stories, the films reveal how an untraceable web of money from wealthy individuals and corporations representing...

James Gandolfini didn’t just step into Tony Soprano’s shoes — he lived in them. So much so that, according to his wife, arguments got so intense he’d start punching himself. Yeah, full-on Tony-style rage, but turned inward. The man wasn’t just acting; he was carrying the weight of TV’s most iconic mob boss, and it bled into real life in ways no one saw coming.

Fans got the legendary performance, but behind the scenes, Gandolfini was at war with himself.

James Gandolfin in The Sopranos | Credits: HBO James Gandolfini’s Tony Soprano struggles took a serious toll on him

According to James Gandolfini’s ex-wife, the late actor was so consumed by the role that he’d punch himself in the face during arguments. The intensity didn’t stop there. On set, his screams from the trailer became routine as he psyched himself up for scenes.

At its core, the character of Tony Soprano was driven by his unresolved childhood trauma, which stemmed from his problematic relationship with his manipulative and self-absorbed mother served as. Throughout the series, James Gandolfini struggled to escape the emotional trauma he endured during his childhood, which explains his overall demeanor in the show.

Livia Soprano | Credit: HBO

Although David Chase drew inspiration from the likes of Federico Fellini and Scorsese for the show’s cinematic approach to TV, the core conflict within Tony was grounded in the writer’s own reality.

David Chase’s mommy issues served as a basis for The Sopranos

When David Chase initially conceived the idea for the mob show, originally supposed to be a movie, the writer modeled Tony after himself. Similar to the Sopranos patriarch, Chase had a difficult bond with his mother, who passed away long before The Sopranos premiered.

The Sopranos | Credit:...

Friends, a sitcom that revolutionized television shows forever, featured some of the most iconic stars in cameo roles way back in the late 90s. Some of these stars are well-known personalities today.

Among the many that gave a cameo or had notable roles in Friends was also iconic director Jon Favreau (who is the director of Iron Man and Iron Man 2).

Jon Favreau is the director of Iron Man 1 and Iron Man 2 | Marvel Studios Jon Favreau had a notable role in Friends

Before settling down with Chandler Bing, Monica Geller had some potential partners who weren’t that good. From Tom Selleck’s Dr. Richard Burke to Paul the Wine Guy, fans enjoyed every boyfriend that Monica Geller ever had.

Courteney Cox and Jon Favreau in Friends | Warner Bros. Television

Fans may remember that Monica Geller dated Pete Becker at the end of season 3 of Friends. The rich...

David Fincher was the most sought-after commercial and music video director in the world in 1992 when he followed the example of his predecessors Alan Parker, Ridley Scott, and Tony Scott by segueing into the unpredictable world of film production. Pulling a Ridley, so to speak, with "Alien 3" might've felt like a propitious move, but it turned into a nightmare production that resulted in the compromising of Fincher's dark vision and the damaging of a valuable studio franchise. The fledgling filmmaker took close to 100 percent of the blame, at which point it looked like he'd get kicked back down to videos and commercials for the foreseeable future.

As we know, he soared brilliantly out of the ashes three years later with "Se7en," and cemented his geek god cinema bona fides in 1999 with "Fight Club." Suddenly, Fincher was the Generation X Stanley Kubrick, a visionary of the now who didn't...

Matthew Weiner created a masterpiece with Mad Men and secured a place in the TV hall of fame with the period drama. Set in the ‘60s and in the advertising world of New York, the show followed Jon Hamm’s Don Draper and his rise and fall. The series won several Emmys and is among some of the greatest shows ever made.

The immediate success of the show gave Weiner a lot of fame and access to more work, but he chose to stick with on till the end of the series to keep his vision intact. Mad Men’s consistency can be largely credited to his dedication to the series and his willingness to say ‘no’ even when the network demanded changes from him.

Jon Hamm in Mad Men | Credits: AMC Mad Men’s Matthew Weiner stuck to his guns and did not compromise on the show

If there...

It's no surprise when fans hear about the various ways The Sopranos changed television and ushered in a new cinematic approach to the medium. Before 1999, network television was the only format viewers were accustomed to, and with that format came specific rules that showrunners and producers had to adhere to. It's an interesting history when discussing the cinematic arts because cinema alone is already a fairly young medium, and television is even younger, with its greatest advancements coming as early as twenty-five years ago. There's a reason why, for decades, filmmakers and actors considered television to be a second-rate medium. Many stars were accustomed to avoiding TV because it essentially meant the end of their movie career. This is because television wasn't viewed as an artful medium in comparison to feature films.

While many great directors found ways to tell compelling stories on television throughout the New Hollywood movement, there's...

The following article contains spoilers for A Working Man, now in theaters.

If you're a film buff or a TV connoisseur, you're probably used to certain screenwriting rules, whether you realize it or not. Some of these rules are more inside baseball and deal with how the story is delivered. For example, there's the three-act structure, avoiding exposition dumps, ensuring the protagonist not only drives the story but changes by the end of the narrative, etc. Other rules are more subtle -- unofficial, even. Those are the ones the more casual viewer is most likely to pick up on.

I recently saw David Ayer and Jason Statham's latest collaboration following 2024's The Beekeeper, titled A Working Man. If we're talking subtle screenwriting rules, I should note the movie uses one of my favorite tropes -- the title drop -- twice (you can't have a film with a title like...