Michael Gandolfini and James Gandolfini.Photo: Amy Sussman/Getty; Evan Agostini/Getty
The significance of taking on the role of Tony Soprano isn’t lost onMichael Gandolfini.
Michael, 22, steps into late dadJames Gandolfini’s famous role as a young version of Tony in the upcomingSopranosprequel movie,The Many Saints of Newark,which will premiere in theaters and on HBO Max Oct. 1.
In a recent interview withEmpire,Michael and director Alan Taylor opened up about James' legacy and how his son honored him in the course of filming.
The Many Saints of Newark.Barry Wetcher
Michael, who was 14 years old whenJames died of a heart attack at the age of 51in 2013 during a family vacation in Rome, noted that accepting the role was “probably the toughest decision I’ve ever had to make.”
He went on to share that his version of mobster Tony is different from the one his dad played on the iconic HBO series from 1999 through 2007.
“My dad’s character had all this beautiful sensitivity underneath this aggression,” he said. “This version of him is the reverse. His curiosity and sensitivity comes first. He’s not a gun-wielding gangster. He’s a kid who gets whittled down and pulled in.”
In addition to Michael,The Many Saints of NewarkstarsAlessandro Nivola,Ray Liotta,Leslie Odom Jr.,Jon Bernthal, Corey Stoll,Billy Magnussen,John Magaro, Michela De Rossi andVera Farmiga, who plays Tony’s mother.
While discussing the film withEsquireback in 2019, Michael opened up about how his father’s death is what propelled him to pursue a career in acting — and eventually land the same role that James is best known for.
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“From the first day, I fell in love with it,” Michael said at the time. “It actually started my grieving process with my dad.”
The Many Saints of Newarkwill be in theaters and on HBO Max on Oct. 1.
source: people.com
