James Gandolfini’s son was not allowed to watch The Sopranos: ‘I never knew Tony Soprano. I only knew my dad’

Actor is set to star as a young Tony Soprano in a forthcoming prequel to the hit HBO series

James Gandolfini’s son, who is set to star in The Sopranosprequel film, has revealed that his father did not allow him to watch the hit HBO series. 

Over its six seasons, The Sopranos won 21 Primetime Emmys and five Golden Globes. The series stars the late Gandolfini as the main character, mob boss Tony Soprano. 

It was announced last year that a prequel film to the hit HBO show, titled The Many Saints of Newark, is due for release in 2021.

The film will star Gandolfini’s 21-year-old son Michael as a young Tony Soprano.

In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, the actor disclosed that he had previously never watched an episode of The Sopranos because his father “didn’t want me to see Tony Soprano – the violence, the angry, the mean”.

(HBO)

“Of course, I was on set and would visit him in his trailer but I had never watched the show,” said Gandolfini. “I never knew Tony Soprano. I only knew my dad.” 

Gandolfini also revealed that prior his audition for the part, he “recorded four hours of [Tony’s] monologues with Dr Melfi [Lorraine Bracco] and walked around New York with them constantly, constantly, constantly playing in my ear”. 

The actor – who is also set to star opposite Tom Holland in Netflix’s forthcoming film Cherry – also discussed his casting in the role as more than a stunt.

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He said: “I had this unspoken trust that David [Chase] wasn’t going to cast me if there was even a shred that this isn’t going to work.”

Chase – The Soprano's creator, showrunner, head writer, and producer – has written the script for The Many Saints of Newark with Lawrence Konner.

Gandolfini described the series as “an origin story through the eyes of Dickie Moltisanti [portrayed by Alessandro Nivola]” – Christopher’s father. Christopher Moltisanti was played by Michael Imperioli in the hit series. 

The film is slated for release on 24 September.