Michael Gandolfini speaks on whether he would return to The Sopranos for a prequel series. Michael is the son of late actor James Gandolfini, who played Tony Soprano in the original HBO series. The young Gandolfini previously played a teenage version of his father’s role in the Max-produced prequel movie The Many Saints of Newark. Since The Sopranos ending, no other spinoff series have been made, but there have been talks circulating online about the viability of a prequel series for the show.
As per Entertainment Tonight (via Entertainment Weekly), Michael Gandolfini speaks about whether he would return to The Sopranos universe for a prequel series. Gandolfini responded that first and foremost, the decision to continue on with more Soprano family content would be solely up to the discretion of series creator, David Chase. As for the actor’s individual opinion, he thinks that Tony Soprano is “probably set to rest for now.” He did express gratitude for his time working on The Many Saints of Newark and how it helped his career. Check out the full quote from Gandolfini below:
Look, it’s David’s [creator David Chase] universe. It’s up to David, ultimately. I know that David’s working on some other things, not Sopranos-related, which would be exciting.
I think Tony’s probably set to rest now for good, but who knows, who knows — but my guess would be, that character [has] now closed the book on that.
I’m so honored that I got to be a part of that story [The Many Saints of Newark]. I got to be a small part of that huge world, and like, that is one of the greatest gifts that has ever really been a part of my career. So I’m grateful for it, and I’m ready to move on and be a new thing.
What This Means For The World Of The Sopranos
David Chase Has Also Said A Prequel Series Is Unlikely
The likelihood of a Sopranos prequel series has waxed and waned over the years. In October 2021, it was reported that David Chase and WarnerMedia were in early talks of producing some kind of Sopranos-related project on Max. A report a few months later stated the contrary, saying that Chase was uninterested in returning to that world. Last year, Chase seemingly confirmed that The Many Saints of Newark was the end of the line, and no TV show was in development.
Gandolfini’s statement all but confirms that a Sopranos prequel is not going to happen. If things are up to Chase, like Gandolfini says, then there will not be any more content in that universe, unless he has a major change of heart. The actor himself also seemed content to put the life of young Tony Soprano aside, noting that he is ready to “move on.” With several of the major players uninterested in delving back into the world of The Sopranos, a prequel series would be impossible, but those involved seemed to think it might be for the best.
Our Take On A Sopranos Prequel Series
Its Is Indeed Best To Let Tony Rest
The Sopranos is one of the most highly regarded, awarded, and beloved shows of all time. The team had already taken a risk by diving back into the world in movie format, which was met with mixed reception as it stands. Tony Soprano’s legacy as a character also lives on through imitative reincarnations of him in series like The Penguin. As such, it is best to leave Tony’s legacy up to influences and inspiration on future projects, rather than force yet another prequel series to happen.
This story originally appeared on Screenrant
