The team behind iconic TV series The Sopranos had a thing for casting people who had appeared in Goodfellas. And while they never quite landed him for the show, Ray Liotta will now be part of prequel film The Many Saints Of Newark.
Show creator David Chase wrote the script for the film, which has the Newark riots of the 1960s as its backdrop. Alan Taylor, who directed several episodes of the series, is calling the shots this time. Saints will chart the buildup of the mafia family eventually run by Tony Soprano on the show.
Liotta's role is, like much of the cast, unknown at this time. Alessandro Nivola will anchor the film as Richard "Dickie" Moltisanti, one of the architects of the crime family, while the cast also includes Jon Bernthal, Vera Farmiga, Billy Magnussen, Corey Stoll and Michael Gandolfini, playing young Tony, the role made famous by his late father James. "I am thrilled to be working with David Chase and Alan Taylor on The Many Saints Of Newark," Liotta tells Deadline. “David’s talent is unmatched and the directing of Alan Taylor makes this even more exciting. I respect them both immensely and look forward to making this special project with New Line."
Cameras will roll and badas will bing in the spring, but no release date is on the books yet.
Keep up to date with all the latest movie news, click here to subscribe to Empire on Great Magazines and have the latest issue delivered to your door every month.