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Michael Gandolfini Says It Was A 'Tough Decision' To Step into Late Dad James Gandolfini's Role

Michael Gandolfini Says It Was A 'Tough Decision' To Step into Late Dad James Gandolfini's Role

Michael Gandolfini is opening up about his role in The Many Saints of Newark, where he portrays a younger version of his late dad, James Gandolfini‘s, Sopranos role.

Talking with Empire, the 22-year-old actor admitted it was a tough decision for him to step into the part.

Click inside to see what Michael shared…

He explained, “You know, I didn’t want to put pressure on myself to walk out of this feeling like I’d grown in terms of my feelings towards my dad. I just wanted to be the best actor I could be, portraying Tony in the way David wanted, scene by scene. I didn’t think about my grief because…well, I would have s*** the bed.”

Michael also opened up about how his Tony Soprano differs from James‘ Tony Soprano.

“My dad’s character had all this beautiful sensitivity underneath this aggression,” he added. “This version of him is the reverse. His curiosity and sensitivity comes first. He’s not a gun-wielding gangster. He’s a kid who gets whittled down and pulled in.”

The Many Saints of Newark is set to open in theatres on October 1.

You can see the full trailer right here!

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