The Many Saints of Newark

In June 2017, when addressing whether or not he would continue The Sopranos, creator David Chase ruled it out while simultaneously hinting at interest in a prequel to the series.[6] In March 2018, New Line Cinema announced that it purchased the rights to the produce the prequel film, co-producing with HBO Films,[7] and Chase co-writing the screenplay with Lawrence Konner.[8][9] Chairman of New Line, Toby Emmerich, stated, "David is a masterful storyteller and we, along with our colleagues at HBO, are thrilled that he has decided to revisit, and enlarge, the Soprano universe in a feature film."[8] Chase said of the storyline, which centers on the 1967 Newark riots and racial tensions between the Italian-American and African-American communities, "I was interested in Newark and life in Newark at that time... I used to go to down there every Saturday night for dinner with my grandparents. But the thing that interested me most was Tony's boyhood. I was interested in exploring that."[5] In July 2018, Alan Taylor, who previously directed episodes of The Sopranos, was hired to direct the film.[10]

In November 2018, Alessandro Nivola was cast to star in the film as Dickie Moltisanti, the father of Christopher Moltisanti.[11] In January 2019, Chase, while discussing the 20th anniversary of the series, revealed that a young Tony Soprano would appear in the film.[5] Jon Bernthal, Vera Farmiga, Corey Stoll and Billy Magnussen were added to the cast that same month.[12][13] Michael Gandolfini, son of James Gandolfini, was cast in the role of young Tony.[14][15] Gandolfini, having never watched The Sopranos, watched through it to prepare for the role, describing it as an intense process.[16] Ray Liotta joined the cast in February,[17] with Leslie Odom Jr. and Michela De Rossi joining in March,[18][19][20] as well as John Magaro, who starred in Chase's debut feature film in 2012, Not Fade Away.[21]

Principal photography began in Brooklyn on April 3, 2019,[22][23] moved to Newark on May 7,[24] and wrapped in June 2019.[25] Branford Place, a street in Newark, was transformed to fit the 1960s time period for the riots, including detailed storefronts, the old Adams Theatre marquee, and the retro neon sign for Hobby's Delicatessen.[26] Luther Engler, a retired Newark police officer, served as a technical adviser for the film.[26] Filming also took place in Bloomfield.[27] Satriale's Pork Store, which was featured in The Sopranos, was recreated in Paterson.[28]