Italian actress Michela De Rossi has been cast in a “pivotal role” in “The Sopranos” prequel “The Many Saints of Newark” as the film begins production next week, an individual with knowledge of the project told TheWrap.
De Rossi joins Alessandro Nivola, Vera Farmiga, Ray Liotta, Jon Bernthal, Corey Stoll, Billy Magnussen, John Magaro and Michael Gandolfini in the ensemble drama set during in the Newark riots in the ’60s. She’ll play an “ambitious” Italian immigrant who comes to America to settle in Newark, New Jersey.
De Rossi is an up-and-coming Italian actress who made her cinematic debut in the 2018 film “Boys Cry,” a breakout at Berlinale that was directed by Fabio and Damiano D’Innocenzo. She’s never acted in the U.S., and her first trip to the States was to audition for the film.
Alan Taylor is directing the film written by “Sopranos” creator David Chase and Lawrence Konner. The film will revolve around Dickie Moltisanti and an especially lethal period in American history between African-Americans and Italian gangsters in Newark.
Nicole Lambert (Chase Films), Marcus Viscidi, and Michael Disco (The Disco Factory) are executive producing the film.
De Rossi is repped by Gianni Chiffi and Consuelo De Andreis at VOLVER.
“The Many Saints of Newark” will be released on Sept. 25, 2020.
De Rossi’s casting was first reported by Deadline.