Long before The Sopranos became a cultural landmark, the series' creator David Chase had a surprising hesitation about the man who would become its cornerstone. In an excerpt from Jason Bailey’s new biography, Gandolfini: Jim, Tony, and the Life of a Legend (via Vulture), it’s revealed that Chase initially feared James Gandolfini might not appear "threatening enough" to carry the weight of Tony Soprano’s imposing presence.
At the time, Gandolfini’s manager, Nancy Sanders, was convinced he was the perfect Tony Soprano, even as David Chase hesitated after reviewing the actor’s reel. Chase found Gandolfini "brilliant," but questioned "Is he threatening enough?".Sanders was quick to dismiss the worry.
"If you said to me, 'He’s a little chubby,' or 'He’s losing his hair,' I could understand. But he’s threatening enough. This is your guy," she insisted.
Casting directors Sheila Jaffe and Georgianne Walken, meanwhile, had no doubts at all — they had considered Gandolfini their top choice from the start.
Gandolfini, however, was not so sure. Reflecting on the audition process, he doubted he stood much of a chance. "I think my exact words were, 'I could kick this guy right in the ass, but I’ll never get cast. They’ll hire some fucking pretty boy,'" he recalled, imagining a slick, television-friendly actor being chosen instead.
Fortunately, after a breakfast meeting and a reading session, all doubts faded. Chase would later remember, "When he finally settled down and really did a reading, it was just obvious."
The rest, of course, is television history — and Tony Soprano remains one of the most unforgettable characters ever created.
