The Sopranos prequel film is set to cast a character that had a major influence on the Mafia epic

A major influence on Tony Soprano.

It appears that The Many Saints of Newark - better known as The Sopranos prequel film - is about to cast its first major character and it's an exciting one for fans of the superb HBO drama. Variety are reporting that David Chase and New Line are in negotiations with Alessandro Nivola to play the role of  Dickey Moltisanti in the prequel film. In the series, Moltisanti is the deceased uncle of Tony Soprano, played by James Gandolfini, and father of Christopher Moltisanti, played by Michael Imperioli. Although we never see Moltisanti on screen - the character was murdered prior to the show starting - he is mentioned as someone who, along with Tony Soprano’s father and Uncle Junior, helped turn this small gang into the dominant criminal empire in New Jersey. As for The Many Saints of Newark, Alan Taylor (Game of Thrones, Boardwalk Empire) is directing from a script that David Chase (series creator) wrote along with Lawrence Konner. Plot details are vague although we know that it's going to be set during the Newark riots in the ’60s when African-Americans and Italians were adversaries. Deadline have also previously reported that film will include a litany of characters that appeared on the HBO series, most likely younger versions of Tony Soprano’s father and mother, played in the original series in flashback by Joseph Siravo and Nancy Marchand. Tony’s uncle Junior is also expected to appear.