‘The Sopranos’ Creator Worried James Gandolfini Wasn’t “Threatening Enough”

David Chase Worried James Gandolfini Wasn’t ‘Threatening Enough’ to Play Tony Soprano

A new book on the life and career of James Gandolfini, the man best known for bringing Tony Soprano to life and helping to usher in a Golden Age of Prestige Television, contained at least one shocking revelation: The Sopranos creator David Chase initially worried Gandolfini wasn’t “threatening enough” to play the troubled mobster. In an excerpt from Jason Bailey’s new book, Gandolfini: Jim, Tony, and the Life of a Legend, which was published in …

‘Sopranos’ Creator David Chase Worried James Gandolfini Wasn’t “Threatening Enough” to Play Tony Soprano

Jason Bailey recounted a story of David Chase worrying that James Gandolfini wasn’t ‘threatening enough’ to play Tony Soprano in his new book.

‘The Sopranos’ Creator David Chase Worried James Gandolfini ‘Wasn’t Threatening Enough’ Before Casting Him in Iconic Lead Role: ‘I Have One Concern’

"The Sopranos" is legendary because of James Gandolfini's iconic performance, but creator David Chase worried he might not be right for the role.

'Sopranos' Creator David Chase Had Only One Qualm About James Gandolfini: 'Is He Threatening Enough?'

James Gandolfini wasn’t well known when he landed the part of Tony Soprano on the HBO series “The Sopranos,” and the show’s creator David Chase wasn’t completely sold on the casting when the actor’s agent contacted him. After Chase watched the actor’s reel, he called back and asked, “I think he’s brilliant. I have one concern, and that is, Is he threatening enough?” “David, if your only concern is is he threatening enough,” Nancy Sanders replied…

‘The Sopranos’ Creator Worried James Gandolfini Wasn’t “Threatening Enough”

More than 25 years later, it seems impossible to imagine anyone other than James Gandolfini in the role of Tony Soprano. But The Sopranos creator David Chase was initially worried the actor wasn’t “threatening enough” to play the mafia boss in the acclaimed HBO drama series that ran for six seasons from 1999 to 2007, according to an excerpt from Jason Bailey’s Gandolfini: Jim, Tony, and the Life of a Legend. “Oh my God, I think I have Tony S…

'The Sopranos' creator was unsure James Gandolfini would be...

'The Sopranos' creator David Chase says he was unsure that James Gandolfini would be "threatening enough" for the role of Tony Soprano.