Movie hits theatres and HBO Max on October 1st

NEWARK, N.J. – Tony Soprano makes his big-screen debut later this month in the feverishly anticipated Warner Bros. feature ?The Many Saints of Newark. Set in the 1960s and 1970s, the movie uses the 1967 rebellion in the city as a backdrop for tensions between the Italian-American and African-American communities. The story follows Tony in his teenage years, when his uncle and family are involved in a violent gang war.

The Many Saints of Newark is directed by Alan Taylor and written by David Chase and Lawrence Konner, and is essentially a prequel to Chase's landmark HBO crime drama, The Sopranos, which ran for six seasons between 1999 and 2007. It will premiere at the Tribeca Fall Preview on September 22nd and screen at The Arthouse Film Festival in late September. Theatrical release is set for October 1st, along with a month-long simultaneous release exclusively on HBO Max.

The young version of Tony is played by Michael Gandolfini, son of late Sopranos star James Gandolfini, who originated the iconic role. Alessandro Nivola, Leslie Odom Jr., Jon Bernthal, Corey Stoll, Billy Magnussen, Michela De Rossi, John Magaro, Ray Liotta and Vera Farmiga are also featured in the impressive cast.

The Sopranos was filmed in homes, shops, diners, and other local establishments throughout New Jersey. Nearly 15 years after the show’s final broadcast, Chase returned to the state to film The Many Saints of Newark on locations in Essex and Passaic counties, including Branford Place and Halsey Street (dressed to reflect the 1960s time period), the old Adams Theatre, and Hobby's Delicatessen in Newark. Filming also took place at Holsten’s Brookdale Confectionery in Bloomfield (featured in the much discussed final episode of the HBO series), and at Bendix Diner in Hasbrouck Heights. Satriale's Pork Store, originally located in Kearny, was recreated at 42 Market Street in Paterson.

“In New Jersey, The Sopranos are a cultural icon that defined the generation of television that followed, and we’re excited to see them back,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “This film and others set to hit the screen in the coming months are a testament to New Jersey’s growing reputation as a premier filming location as well as the strength of our tax incentive program and we look forward to record growth in the coming year.”

Secretary of State Tahesha Way added, “The Sopranos changed the course of television history, and paved the way for the high quality episodic television that we enjoy today. It was a game changer for New Jersey when it first aired, and significantly contributed to the state’s rising popularity as a production center. We are thrilled that David Chase chose to film the movie prequel in New Jersey, returning to the scene of the crimes.”

The Many Saints of Newark is one of many projects recently attracted to the state by the New Jersey Film and Digital Media Tax Credit Program, which offers a tax credit for qualified productions filming here. Other recent New Jersey projects include Zack Snyder’s Army of the Dead, the HBO miniseries The Plot Against America, Hulu’s Wu-Tang: An American Saga, Aaron Sorkin’s The Trial of the Chicago 7, and Steven Spielberg’s upcoming remake of West Side Story.

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About the New Jersey Motion Picture & Television Commission
The NJMPTVC, which falls under the New Jersey Department of State’s Business Action Center, is staffed by industry professionals and serves as a resource for production companies. The Commission promotes film and television production in New Jersey.
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