https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/sopranos-prequel-james-gandolfini-son-24427143
Fans of hit mafia show The Sopranos have been given their first look at new prequel movie The Many Saints of Newark, which stars Michael Gandolfini as young Tony Soprano. Michael is the son of the show's leading man James Gandolfini and he was just 14 when his actor dad died in 2013.
The first trailer for The Sopranos prequel movie has dropped and it's given fans their first look at James Gandolfini's son playing a young Tony Soprano.
The Many Saints of Newark is a big screen revival of the hit mobster TV show giving a glimpse into life years before Tony became boss.
In the TV series, Tony was played by James Gandolfini, who died in 2013 aged 51, and the role has been taken over by his son Michael in the new film.
Michael Gandolfini was only 14 when his actor father collapsed in his hotel room while on holiday in Rome and died soon afterwards.
Now Michael is taking on his dad's most famous role as the mafia chief who is sent to therapy.
The 22-year-old actor admitted he'd never seen a single episode of the Sopranos before he got the part.
He got into character by binge-watching the whole series and listening to hours of his father's speeches.
In a newly-released trailer - he looks just like his late dad and even manages to get Tony's New Jersey accent spot on.
The film is set in the 1960s, in Newark, New Jersey, against a backdrop of violence and unrest.
In 1967, there were four days of race riots, looting and arson in the city. More than 20 people died and hundreds were injured.
James Gandolfini's voice introduces the film. "When I was a kid," he growls, "boys like me were brought up to follow codes."
Hot-headed teen Tony, dressed in a fleece-lined denim jacket, gets into a fight immediately.
The movie's name The Many Saints of Newark is a pun on a family name, Moltisanti, Italian for 'many saints'.
The Moltisantis are part of a local mafia in the New Jersey city and Christopher Moltisanti was famously bumped off by his uncle Tony.
In the trailer, we get our first glimpse of Tony's uncle, Dickie Moltisanti, who was a big influence on his nephew. Dickie is also the cousin of Carmela, who will become Tony's wife.
Tony's uncle Dickie died when his son Christopher was a baby, and in turn adult Tony looked after his nephew Christopher – up to a point.
Dickie offers Tony a dodgy deal and the youngster responds, "I wanna go to college, I can’t get caught with sh** like this." But foreshadowing what is to come, Dickie persuades him saying, "Say to yourself this is the last time."
Fans of the original TV series, which ran for six series from 1999 to 2007, will be thrilled to see iconic locations like Satriale's pork store, and younger versions of their other favourite characters will be in the film.
