The upcoming mob film The Many Saints of Newark, a prequel to HBO’s groundbreaking series The Sopranos, has added another actor to its cast. Deadline has reported Broadway’s Hamilton and Murder on the Orient Express star Leslie Odom Jr. has joined the film in an unknown role.
Scripted by The Sopranos creator David Chase and directed by Alan Taylor, the film will take place during the era of the Newark riots in the ’60s when African Americans and Italian Americans in the city were at each other’s throats, and explores the rise of the DiMeo crime family. Alessandro Nivola is set to play Dickie Moltisanti, the father of Michael Imperioli’s Christopher Moltisanti from The Sopranos. Between himself and Tony Soprano, who will be played by James Gandoflini’s son Michael Gandolfini, other characters from the original series may also show up in the film.
Featuring in the cast of The Many Saints of Newark are Alessandro Nivola (Disobedience), Ray Liotta (Goodfellas), Jon Bernthal (The Punisher), Vera Farmiga (The Conjuring), Corey Stoll (The Strain), Billy Magnussen (Game Night) and John Magaro (Not Fade Away), while James Gandolfini’s son Michael Gandolfini (The Deuce) will play a young Tony Soprano.
The Many Saints of Newark is set for release on September 25th 2020.
Originally published March 20, 2019. Updated May 13, 2019.
