Now, I know this isn’t exactly the same as Al Pacino as Michael Corleone saying, "Every time I think I’m out, they pull me back in," but there’s something comforting about Ray Liotta — the legendary Henry Hill from Martin Scorsese's 1990 masterpiece Goodfellas — returning to his mob roots. At 64, Ray has joined the cast of The Many Saints of Newark, a movie prequel to HBO’s iconic series The Sopranos. The creative direction of this project is in the hands of the series creator, David Chase.
Liotta's Excitement Over Working with David Chase and Alan Taylor
Ray Liotta couldn’t hide his excitement in a statement, saying, "I am thrilled to be working with David Chase and Alan Taylor on The Many Saints of Newark. David’s talent is unmatched, and Alan’s directing makes this project even more exciting. I deeply respect them both and can’t wait to be part of this special project with New Line." It’s clear that Liotta is as pumped about this as fans are to see him back in the mob game.
Who Else is Part of the Cast?
The film boasts an impressive lineup, including Alessandro Nivola, Vera Farmiga, Jon Bernthal, Billy Magnussen, Corey Stoll, and Michael Gandolfini — the late James Gandolfini’s son, who will play the younger version of Tony Soprano. That’s a star-studded cast if I’ve ever seen one.
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HBO’s The Sopranos: A Cultural Phenomenon
At this point, it’s not an exaggeration to say that HBO’s The Sopranos is one of the most influential TV series of our generation. The show, which focuses on the family and "la familia" of Italian-American mobster Tony Soprano, was born from the mind of writer-producer David Chase. Chase, who got his start on shows like The Magician and Kolchak: The Night Stalker, was understandably hesitant to revisit this material after the show ended in 2007. But here we are, and it seems like the timing is finally right.
Let’s talk about the creative team behind this project. Alan Taylor, who directed episodes of the original series as well as feature films like Thor: The Dark World and Terminator: Genisys, is taking the helm. The script is penned by Chase and his frequent collaborator Lawrence Konner. It’s a dream team if you ask me.
(Photo By Getty Images)
The setting for the prequel takes us back to the 1960s during the race riots in Newark. In an interview with Deadline, Chase shared, "I was interested in Newark and life in Newark at that time. I used to go down there every Saturday night for dinner with my grandparents. But the thing that interests me most was Tony’s boyhood. I wanted to explore that." This exploration will delve into the rising tensions between whites and blacks during that era, with the young Tony Soprano being a part of it.
Chase admitted he was initially against the idea of a movie and still feels uneasy about doing a prequel. However, the allure of exploring Newark during that time, combined with the organized crime of that era, proved too tempting to resist. He also expressed excitement about portraying the Mafia during its "golden age." "It’s going to depict when it was good. The mafia was very polished back then; how they dressed and what they did. Those traditions were followed more loosely in the series. These weren’t guys who wore tracksuits back then," Chase revealed.
For now, there’s no word on a release date, but fans are surely on the edge of their seats waiting for more details.
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