The Many Saints of Newark (Exclusive Series) (HBO Max)

Initial release date: October 1, 2021

Studios: Warner Bros./New Line Cinema/HBO Films/Chase Films

Tagline: A Sopranos Story

Who Made Tony Soprano

Plot: Young Anthony Soprano is growing up in one of the most tumultuous eras in Newark, NJ history, becoming a man just as rival gangsters start to rise up and challenge the all-powerful DiMeo crime family. Caught up in the changing times is the uncle he idolizes, Dickie Moltisanti, whose influence over his nephew will help shape the impressionable teenager into the all-powerful mob boss, Tony Soprano.

Cast

Alessando Nivola - Dickie Moltisanti

Leslie Odom Jr. - Harold McBrayer

Vera Farmiga - Livia Soprano

Jon Bernthal - Johnny Soprano

Corey Stoll - Junior Soprano

Ray Liotta - 'Hollywood Dick' Moltisanti/Salvatore 'Sally' Moltisanti

Michaela De Rossi - Giuseppina Moltisanti

Michael Gandolfini - Teenage Tony Soprano

Billy Magnussen - Paulie Walnuts

John Magaro - Silvio Dante

Michael Imperioli - Christopher Moltisanti

Joey Diaz - Buddha

Germar Terrel Gardner - Cyril

Gabriella Piazza - Joanne Moltisanti

Lason Bleu - Leon Overall

Aaron Joshua - Jaleel

Lesli Margherita - Iris Balducci

Writer(s): David Chase (The Sopranos; Not Fade Away) (based on the characters created by)

Lawrence Konner (The Sorcerer's Apprentice; Flicka)

Director: Alan Taylor (Terminator Genisys)

Rated R for strong violence, pervasive language, sexual content and some nudity (120 minutes)

'The Sopranos' is still to this day a fairly popular television series. If you miss this highly acclaimed series, you can stream it on HBO Max. The creator of 'The Sopranos' created a big screen continuation of the series in 2021, which was released as a hybrid release on both HBO Max and in theaters.

'The Many Saint of Newark' is a fairly decent film that continues the story of 'The Sopranos.' The story that involves the young Tony Soprano and the people that influenced him to be the mob boss he will eventually become is really interesting and shows the beginning times of the gangster that everyone knows from 'Sopranos.'

Even though this big screen story can be interesting at times, it can drag on in a few spots. 'Many Saints of Newark' does feature some tense gangster action and the Newark riot moments are also extremely tense. But it also features some generic gangster cliched moments. It also features one of the late Ray Liotta's final acting roles in a major film release.

'The Many Saints of Newark' and 'The Sopranos' can be streamed on HBO Max! Since the film didn't perform well in theaters, the studio definitely should have released this as an original movie for the steaming platform.

Here are some interesting tidbits for 'The Many Saints of Newark':

• The film's title comes from Dickie Moltisanti's family's name which when translated from Italian to English means "many saints."

• Michael Gandolfini has never watched 'The Sopranos' prior to being cast in the role as young Tony Soprano.

• Gandolfini had to re do many takes as his portrayal was sometimes TOO close to his father's interpretation of the character, while he was intended to be still a young teen and not yet the feared adult gangster.

• As with all of the WB major 2021 theatrical releases, it was released simultaneously on HBO Max and in theaters.

• In one of the final scenes, we see Tony waiting for Dickie at Holstein's ice cream shop. This is the location where the iconic last scene of the series takes place.

• Chase ruled out the idea of continuing 'The Sopranos' story in June 2017, while simultaneously expressing an interest in a prequel to the series. He had earlier been against the idea of making a film based on the series, especially a sequel to the series, given Gandolfini's death in 2013, but became interested in Newark due to the 1967 Newark riot and his family ties to the city.

• In March 2016, New Line Cinema announced that it purchased the rights to produce the film along with HBO Films.

• 'The Many Saints of Newark' grossed $8.2 million in the US and Canada, and $4.5 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $12.7 million. It was a streaming success, according to Samba TV, it was viewed 1 million times during its opening weekend. It outperformed similarly budgeted films like 'Reminiscence' and 'Cry Macho' that was released on HBO Max, with Warner Media stating it was streamed 3x more than the second most viewed film of the weekend.

https://youtu.be/d9Em4ckh878