Soprano The creator David Chis had one question when the director of James Gandolfini, Nancy Sanders, suggested to the role of Tony Soprano: “Is he threatening enough?”
Photo: Ron Galila Group/Ron Galla via Getti
James Gandolfni was unknown to most TV viewers when he got the role of Tony Soprano. But if you are a taste of characters in the mid -1990s, it was already on your radar. The Gandolfni was a strong impression on many large supportive screen, including Lieutenant Bobby Dogerti in the excitement submarine movie Tidal; A investigator owned by a demon for a short period He fell; Gina Davis’s sweet friend in save; A strong follower named Bear, who was beaten by John Travolta in Get a brief; The most exciting, the mob mob that fights Patricia Arkit to death – and loses – in Real romance. When Gandolfini appeared in the waiting room of Dr. Mifi’s office in the experimental episode of Soprano, He stares silently in a statue of a naked woman, who was clearly found the role that would involve all his talents, in addition to more he has not yet exploited.
This excerpt from Gandolfini: Jim, Tony, and Life of Legendand The new biography of the actor by the critic, the cinema historian, and the shareholder, Eagle Jason Billy, draws the loose path that brought the actor to Soprano David Chis field. The book necessarily explores its subject from abroad, as Gandolphini was a private man who conducted two full individual interviews during his career (One of them was for me As TV critic L. Star Ledger). It is great to see him through the eyes of people who will later become his colleagues and friends. Even before it becomes famous, it can be unpredictable, reckless, and sometimes a mysterious presence.
While the experimental text program knocked from one network to another, David Chase was in a function in the CBS series for Marginburger, which focused on the witness protection program. use Soprano Experimental scenario as a writing sample, which arrived at James Gandolfini’s managers, Mark Armstrong and Nancy Sanders – Hilginger was also their agent. I passed the Helgenberger, but when Word revolves around the HBO deal SopranoSanders saw a gym opening. Remember: “I read it again, and I went, Oh my God, I think I have Tony Soprano“
Cass called at home and told him so much. He was enjoying a dinner on Sunday night and a bottle of wine with his wife. “It looks familiar,” said Chis. “I am quite a conversation with you, but I may not remember it. Call me tomorrow morning and send me VHS.” The next morning, a messenger handed a gym to a chase; Sanders called again at 11 am “Well, here is the deal,” he told her. “I think it’s great. I have one anxiety, that is, does it threaten enough?”
“David, if your only interest is that it threatens enough …,” she said laughing. “If you tell me,” he is a little full “or” loses his hair ” to threaten enough. This is your man. “
“In the release of the movie from Soprano“I thought about Robert De Niro,” Chis said, “I did not think about Robert De Niro,” Tree lounge. “We did not know anything,” Javi said. “Georgian and I were doing independent films; we never did TV.” In 1996, they assisted the writer and director Melissa Pinte from her project in a workshop in the Sandans Labs (it became the feature of 1999, in 1999, WildflowerOn the father and daughter. Gandolfini’s painter, whom I knew personally.
Javi said: “We only saw Jim Gandolfini playing the role of peace,” and this father was this fool who was completely different, but I thought he was a good actor. I saw it in it The tram name is called desire with Aida Tortoro. I always thought he was good and interesting, but I never saw him doing this kind of things. But he was a laboratory and was like, “Why not?” He did that, and was great. So I knew this other aspect of him that I do not think that the general public he saw yet, which made me know that he was able to a lot, because he was a really wonderful man. “
With Sanders pushed for him, Yukin and Juffy in a corner, Gandolfni was pleased with the chase Soprano The scenario. “I think my fine words were,” I could kick this man at the back, but I will never deal with that. ”He remembers. Everyone to be Italian – that list was long, but it was not Which – which Long “), and everyone had to test, first for the sake of chas, then for the allowances in HBO.” We said, “No, you should know who he is,” says Mark Armstrong. So we said, “No, but we will meet David,” and arranged breakfast.
“At that time, I was younger,” Gandolfini remembers, “I stayed late, and I was like, Oh, for the sake of curse. This man wants to have breakfast? This man will be pain in the back. So we met and spent most of the time laughing at our mothers and families. “
Next, Gandolfini met with the forces that are in HBO, “Then the Reading”, says Armstrong laughing. “After we create it all and tell it that he was not forced to.” Jim said, “I was born to play Tony … I wanted it a lot and agreed to test for him.”
Walken and Jaffe rented a test room on 72 Street, table and two chairs, and a camera preparation. Jim came, spoke with Chis a little, and started reading. “It was very good,” said Chis. But Jim barely installed him when he stopped reading and began to apologize. “I do not do this correctly,” I insisted. “I didn’t prepare for this right. I don’t do it right. I don’t want to do it anymore. I want to return and do it for you again.”
The return was offered next Friday, Cis recalls, “Then he came on Friday and could not enter. I swear that this is what we were told: his mother died.” It was a purely delay tactic. Santa Gandolfini went through months ago.
By the time Jim finally felt back, Chis returned to Los Angeles. But Walken and Jaffe were pushing strongly for him – “It was really our favorite idea from the beginning,” the latter admitted – so they flew to Los Angeles to put it on a tape. “David turned the camera, and read,” Javi said. “VHS tapes were what time has been time. David and I ran to his home, and saw them, and we are very excited.”
Nancy Sanders is seated with Jim and his agent, David Brunstein, at Century Plaza Hotel near HBO headquarters. He said: “I came to you to make ridiculous films.” “Now I am doing the HBO series?”
Photo: Anthony Nesto/Getti Emiez
“When he finally settled and really read, it was completely clear,” said Chis. “There was no question on this topic. It was the man.” But Chis had to be sure. “The test was after the test – many people went up to this role,” he said. “In fact, they do not like you to bring one person – they want to get some inputs. So three people were brought to HBO for the role of Tony, and one of them was.”
“There were three people testing Tony,” according to Michael Amboli, who was also in the network test, for another role. “Jim Gandolfini, whom I did not know; Mike Respooli, who was an intimate friend, who continued to play Jiakomo Michael” Jackie “.
There was no instant consensus in the room. To SUSIE FITZGGERALD, which was on behalf of the BRILLSTEIN-Grey Administrative Management Company, “at the moment when he was going in the room, I was like, Oh, this is completely“But Chase” took some convincing, “according to Litzgerald. Fitzgerald strongly pushed Gandolfni.
“I don’t care that,” she replied. “Is it?”
According to Chris Albricht, the original HBO programming head, “Rispoli was great. It was more entertaining than Jimmy, just because of the regular rhythms he had. I think we sat with that for a moment. So we throw Jimmy. “
No one was surprised by more than the actor. “This was an incredible leap in faith,” confessed. “I mean, not four beautiful women in Manhattan [as in Sex and the City]. This was a handful of obese players from Jersey. ”Sincerity, he was not sure of the show or the role.
“Why do I do this?” He asked her. “I came to you to make ridiculous movies. Now I am doing the HBO series? I don’t even know what the network is!”
“Jim, listen to me,” she answered. “This is the best piece of writing I have ever read, whether it is TV, movie or theater. I promise: this is worth doing. It will not change the world, but it will change the TV.”
“Fine”, sigh. “Damn it.” The papers are signed. When broke the news to Italian movie Director Roberto Montelu, Gandolphini Jesus, “Oh my God, Roberto, will I become unemployed in less than a year. Who will Hell will do a TV program on Maviusus in Jersey?”
from Gandolfini: Jim, Tony, and Life of Legend (Abrams Press) by Jason Billy, for sale April 29, 2025. © 2025 Jason Billy.
