Sopranos Prequel in the Works

By Logan McRay

I’m cautiously optimistic about the upcoming Soprano Babies movie “The Many Saints of Newark.” Among other threads, the movie will look at the life of Dickie Moltisanti, father of Tony Soprano sidekick Christopher (Christafuhh) Moltisanti. It will also feature a young Tony Soprano and address racial tensions in Newark, NJ. Sopranos creator David Chase offered some details about the project to Deadline:

“I was interested in Newark and life in Newark at that time,” Chase told Deadline. “I used to go to down there every Saturday night for dinner with my grandparents. But the thing that interested me most was Tony’s boyhood. I was interested in exploring that.”

Chase continued:

“The movie will deal with the tensions between the blacks and whites at the time, and Tony Soprano will be part of this, but as a kid,” Chase said.”

“The Sopranos” was one of the last television series in recent memory to explore traditional family roles, racial differences, and the importance of ethnicity and culture. It was hyperbolic in its portrayal of Italian stereotypes, but featured many scenes that still ring true. Even the stylistic left turn of Vito’s jaunt to New Hampshire (and his laughable tryst with Johnny Cakes) was resolved decisively by Phil Leotardo. I just hope it will include the origin story of future Ghostbuster Paulie Walnuts.