Alan Taylor, former director of The Sopranos talks about why The Many Saints of Newark needed to be a prequel, as a sequel would only ruin the original series ending.
The Sopranos had a superior run in the early 2000s, shaping the American anti-hero against the setting of the rampant mob life. Other than its avant-garde storyline, it is also lauded for its controversial ending.
On the night of June 10, 2007, as millions watched the series finale of The Sopranos, episode titled ‘Made in America,’ their television screens abruptly cut to black, causing many to rush to their TVs to check if something was wrong. The scene that had just played had Tony Soprano waiting in a diner for his family. The members arrived one by one, daughter Meadow being the last.
But no, just as Meadow steps into the diner, Tony looks up from his menu and the episode ends. Talk about devastating.
Now that former show director Taylor is back to direct the sequel written by the original show creator David Chase and screenwriter Lawrence Konner, he tells Hollywood Reporter that a sequel to The Sopranos will be impossible.
The beauty of The Sopranos finale is the emotions it stirred with such a vague, gut-wrenching and unfinished ending. To make a sequel would plainly take it away. Taylor reaffirms that Chase knows a sequel would only demand the ending to be explained and the showrunner would never allow that.
No doubt fans were completely shattered when the finale first aired but since then have made their peace with coloring the pitch-black ending with their own interpretations. (Taylor himself believes that Tony is dead, but make of it what you will).
Still, it is not all over: Not only will The Many Saints of Newark follow Tony Soprano’s formative years as a youth, but Chase also hinted to Taylor that there may be more prequels to come.
The Many Saints of Newark will star Michael Gandolfini as young Tony, navigating through Newark’s stormy events in the 1960s and 70s, under the wing of his uncle Dickie Moltisanti. Michael is James Gandolfini’s son, the actor who played Tony in The Sopranos.
The film is slated to be released both theatrically and on HBO Max, October 1.
About The Sopranos
The story revolves around a New Jersey crime family boss Tony Soprano. He seeks help from a psychologist for his increasing panic attacks. Modern organized crime isn’t just about gambling, prostitution, and labor unions but also involves health-care scams and junk bonds.
Surrounded by bitter family members and old rivals, Tony realizes that his best years of crime were long gone before he succeeded to the head of the family.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
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