The Many Saints of Newark

Chase ruled out the idea of continuing The Sopranos story in June 2017, while simultaneously expressing an interest in a prequel to the series.[9] In March 2018, New Line Cinema announced that it purchased the rights to produce the film along with HBO Films,[10] with Chase co-writing the screenplay with Lawrence Konner.[11][12] New Line's chairman, Toby Emmerich, stated, "David is a masterful storyteller and we, along with our colleagues at HBO, are thrilled that he has decided to revisit, and enlarge, the Soprano universe in a feature film."[11] Chase said that the storyline centers on the 1967 Newark riots and racial tensions between the Italian-American and African-American communities. "I was interested in Newark and life in Newark at that time ... 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."[8] Alan Taylor directed episodes of The Sopranos, and he was hired to direct the film in July 2018.[13]

In November 2018, Alessandro Nivola was cast to star in the film as Dickie Moltisanti, the father of Christopher Moltisanti.[14] In January 2019, Chase, while discussing the 20th anniversary of the series, revealed that a young Tony Soprano would appear in the film.[8] Jon Bernthal, Vera Farmiga, Corey Stoll and Billy Magnussen were added to the cast that same month.[15][16] Michael Gandolfini, son of James Gandolfini, was cast in the role of young Tony.[17][18] Gandolfini, having never watched The Sopranos, watched through it to prepare for the role, describing it as an intense process.[19] Ray Liotta joined the cast in February,[20] with Leslie Odom Jr. and Michela De Rossi joining in March,[21][22][23] as well as John Magaro, who starred in Chase's debut feature film in 2012, Not Fade Away.[24]

Principal photography began in Brooklyn on April 3, 2019,[25][26] moved to Newark on May 7,[27] and wrapped in June 2019.[28] Branford Place, a street in Newark, was transformed to fit the 1960s time period for the riots, including detailed storefronts, the old Adams Theatre marquee, and the retro neon sign for Hobby's Delicatessen.[29] Luther Engler, a retired Newark police officer, served as a technical adviser for the film.[29] Filming also took place in Bloomfield.[30] Satriale's Pork Store, which was featured in The Sopranos, was recreated in Paterson.[31] The production returned for re-shoots in September 2020.[32]