From the first voice we hear being the late James Gandolfini's from the show itself to how the theme tune eases in at the end of this first trailer, the links between The Sopranos and prequel film The Many Saints Of Newark are certainly more in the open than some of the shady business conducted by the "family" here.
Sopranos creator David Chase and show veteran Lawrence Konner wrote the script for the film which has the Newark riots of the 1960s and tension between African-American and Italian gangs as its backdrop. Alan Taylor, who directed several episodes of the series, is calling the shots this time. Saints charts the buildup of the mafia family eventually run by Tony Soprano on the show.
Alessandro Nivola anchors the film as Richard "Dickie" Moltisanti, one of the architects of the crime family, while the cast also includes Ray Liotta, Jon Bernthal, Vera Farmiga, Billy Magnussen, Corey Stoll, Leslie Odom Jr. and Michael Gandolfini, playing young Tony, the role made famous his father.
After a pandemic-forced delay, The Many Saints Of Newark will be out in the UK on 22 October.