The 2-part film explores the cultural phenomenon of the show with its creator David Chase.
Twenty-five years on from the show’s debut, HBO have announced a premiere date for a new documentary on The Sopranos.
From director Alex Gibney, WISE GUY David Chase and The Sopranos explores the highly regarded crime drama and its impact. Running for seven seasons, the show broke new ground in long-form television storytelling.
For anyone with an interest in the show, this sounds like essential viewing. It also promises insights into how a successful television series is run.
Both parts premiere on HBO Max in the US on HBO Max on Saturday, September 7th 2024.
Here’s what HBO say about WISE GUY David Chase and The Sopranos:
On a replica set of Dr. Melfi’s psychiatrist’s office, Gibney flips the script on David Chase, excavating and analyzing the origins of “The Sopranos,” his creative process, and the intimate connections between his own life and many of his characters. Joined by show writers, producers, executives, and actors, including Lorraine Bracco, Edie Falco, and Michael Imperioli, the documentary offers insight and inspiration along with a stunning array of clips from the show, early audition videos from many of the cast members, and behind-the-scenes footage to take the viewer into the vibrant “Sopranos” world.
From his own upbringing in an Italian American family in north New Jersey, with a complicated mother and a fascination with cinema, Chase details his entrée into Hollywood, where he wrote for a multitude of television shows, and his relationship with HBO as he pitched and developed his anti-hero mobster Tony Soprano. With candor and self-reflection, Chase digs into the challenges of running a successful show, the inevitable “deaths” of some of the show’s favorite characters, and his creative working relationship with the late James Gandolfini.
WISE GUY David Chase and The Sopranos takes us into the writers’ room, from the inspirational pilot to the controversial final episode, demonstrating how a show about a multi-layered mob boss became a cultural milestone, a beloved fan-favorite, and a revolutionary television sensation.
The documentary comes from Jigsaw Productions. The director is Alex Gibney, who produces with Ophelia Harutyunyan. The executive producers are Nicole Lambert, Richard Perello, and Stacey Offman.
There’s no confirmation of a UK broadcaster so far. We’ve got our fingers crossed for Sky Atlantic – we’ll keep you posted.