Ray Liotta is going back to his Goodfellas roots. According to Deadline, the actor has joined the Sopranos prequel The Many Saints of Newark from New Line Cinema. Details on the project, including Liotta’s role, are being kept tightly under wraps, though the report notes that many characters from The Sopranos will appear. Alan Taylor is set to direct.
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“I am thrilled to be working with David Chase and Alan Taylor on ‘The Many Saints of Newark,’” Liotta said. “David’s talent is unmatched and the directing of Alan Taylor makes this even more exciting. I respect them both immensely and look forward to making this special project with New Line.”
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Liotta joins Alessandro Nivola, Vera Farmiga, Jon Bernthal, Billy Magnussen, Corey Stoll, and Michael Gandolfini, who slides into the Tony Soprano role made famous by his late father James Gandolfini. The move marks a nice return to Liotta’s gangster roots, as he shot to fame via his terrific portrayal of Henry Hill in Martin Scorsese’s crime-drama Goodfellas.
David Chase and Lawrence Konner wrote the Sopranos prequel, which is said to take place amidst the Newark riots of the 1960s — a time in which tensions between African Americans and Italian Americans was fierce.
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