The Many Saints of Newark: Jon Bernthal and Vera Farmiga join cast of Sopranos prequel film

Jon Bernthal and Vera Farmiga have reportedly joined the cast of The Many Saints of Newark, a prequel film to HBO's critically acclaimed series The Sopranos.

According to Variety, the actor’s precise roles are yet to be revealed, although they will join Alessandro Nivola, who is expected to play Richard “Dickie” Moltisanti.

Though the character never appeared in The Sopranos – even through flashback – Dickie loomed large over its story. He was Carmela Soprano’s cousin and was gunned down when his son Christopher Moltisanti was still an infant.

Dickie’s early death was the whole reason Tony Soprano (Gandolfini) felt so paternal toward Chrissy, and a whole episode was given over to Chrissy avenging his father’s death.

The Many Saints of Newark is set amid the 1967 Newark riots, which Livia was seen watching live on television during a flashback in the episode “Down Neck”.

David Chase, The Sopranos‘s creator, showrunner, head writer, producer (and in one episode, its voice of God) is spearheading the movie. He wrote the script with Lawrence Konner, a Sopranos staff writer who got sole credit on three episodes.

Directing the film will be Alan Taylor, who also served as director on nine episodes of The Sopranos, along with the Mad Men pilot and Game of Thrones‘s thrilling “Beyond the Wall” season 7 episode.

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