Michael Gandolfini can’t believe his father played Tony Soprano for 9 years
“Tony Soprano is a [expletive] tough character, â€said Michael Gandolfini.
Michael Gandolfini in “The Many Saints of Newark”, James Gandolfini in “The Sopranos”
Warner Bros./HBO
Michael Gandolfini has previously spoken of never watching “The Sopranos” until he is cast as young Tony Soprano in the upcoming prequel film “The Many Saints of Newark”. In a new interview with The New York Times, the actor shared that he had an unexpected reaction when he first watched the Emmy-winning HBO drama series: Being James Gandolfini’s son wouldn’t help him become Tony Soprano.
“Maybe I could figure out how to play my dad,†said Michael, “but I don’t know how to play Tony. I have to make my own Tony out of my life and keep playing the things that made him. Tony.
As The New York Times reports: “Michael was completely fascinated by the multifaceted Tony -” a character who will cry, get mad at himself for crying and then laugh at himself in one scene, “he said. he stated. Gandolfini was determined to assimilate the physical quirks and tics he saw in his father’s performance: Tony’s heavy walking and stooped posture; the way he bit his lip when he smiled and clenched his fists. during his therapy sessions.
“The pressure is real,†Michael said of his father’s most iconic role. “There is fear. But the second layer, which a lot of people don’t think about, which was actually more difficult, is playing Tony Soprano… not only was that my dad’s feeling – it was like, Tony Soprano is a [expletive] tough character.
Michael walked away from the film with pride for his father. “So he wasn’t Tony,” the actor said. The temperature. “The only idea I think I got was deep pride in him. I’m exhausted after three months, have you been doing this for nine years?
Michael stars in “Many Saints” as a younger version of the famous Tony Soprano, who in the film is an idealistic teenager whose worldview is shaped by his relationship with his mafia uncle Dickie Moltisanti (Alessandro Nivola). Warner Bros. opens “The Many Saints of Newark” in theaters October 1. The film will be available to stream exclusively on HBO Max for 31 days from its theatrical release.
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