The Sopranos Creator Is Making The Last Movie We Ever Expected

While Winter and Chase co-wrote much of The Sopranos’ best material—and Chase conceived the series, basing much of it on his Italian-American upbringing in the greater New York City area—this team effort comprises the duo’s first foray into three fronts: co-writing a feature film screenplay, producing together, and, most saliently, making a freakin’ horror film. 

Perhaps it helps that the whole shebang is under David Chase’s coveted first-look deal with Warner Bros, affording the creative much flexibility and confidence to pursue passion projects, knowing a significant studio is behind him, or at least contractually obligated to be interested. That said, the details of the film’s plot are currently totally obscure and may remain so for the near future. 

The upcoming feature boasts a capable production team, including—beyond those mentioned above—Nicole Lambert of Riverain Pictures, who handled The Many Saints of Newark (a somewhat disappointing prequel to The Sopranos). Rachel Winter will also lend a hand via her Tangerine Pictures; she helped realize the excellent, Oscar-awarded Dallas Buyers Club. 

While the announcement that Chase and company will create a horror film seems surprising at first (what’s next—Greta Gerwig making a sci-fi flick?), it makes a little more sense when you consider how often and consistently The Sopranos dealt with horrific elements.

Generally, the series explored dark, psychological themes; these qualities, crucial when crafting a compelling horror film, were constant in David Chase’s show. Additionally, The Sopranos routinely delved into the darkest depths of the human psyche, offering morally ambiguous characters who were nursing personal demons that often led to intense, suspenseful, and even outright terrifying moments. 

Remember when Paulie communicated with his murder victim at the seance, for instance? And the dream sequences, such a hallmark of Chase’s writing, often featured genuinely terrifying elements, evoking a sense of dread and angst perfectly apt for horror. 

Also, Chase and Winter’s experience in building tension and suspense—as pivotal in The Sopranos as it is for any proper horror film—bodes well for them, too. The more you can surprise the audience, after all, weaving intricate plots with unexpected turns, all leveraged to create sequences that keep viewers on the edge of their seats, the better off your scary movie is. 

David Chase and Winter have also created work that is well outside the mafia genre. Winter, for example, wrote the acclaimed The Wolf of Wall Street, which earned him an Oscar nomination. He also co-wrote the music biopic Bob Marley: One Love, which has made a boatload of money and proved Winter can do anything.

And Chase, on the heels of The Sopranos and with the late, great James Gandolfini, put out Not Fade Away, a nostalgic coming-of-age tale to a bygone 60s New Jersey. 

David Chase and Winter’s The Sopranos recently celebrated its 25th anniversary, a momentous occasion for fans. Recognized as one of the most financially successful and critically acclaimed series in cable television history, notching 21 Emmy Awards, the show put the “prestige” in “prestige TV.” 

We can’t wait for their horror film. 

Source: Deadline