NEW YORK — HBO has confirmed that the Sopranos prequel film The Many Saints of Newark, coming out October 1, will include a back-alley scene in which Thomas and Martha Wayne are murdered in slow motion.
“The Many Saints of Newark is going to finally show viewers Tony Soprano’s origins, revealing some of the key moments of his childhood that got him to be the troubled mob boss that he is in the late 1990s and early 2000s. And, of course, that includes the time that he robbed Thomas and Martha Wayne outside a theater as a teenager, Martha’s blood-soaked pearls slowly hitting the pavement as Tony looks on in horror at the monster that he has become,” writer David Chase explained. “Was killing Batman’s parents the origin I had in mind for Tony when I originally conceived the show? No. But if we’re making a prequel story, I think it wouldn’t be right if we didn’t include the scene. Plus, it works doubly well because it also shows the viewers how Batman came to be. I think that’s a pretty fascinating story as well.”
According to those familiar with the situation, actors working on the project are excited to dive into the iconic roles established in the hit HBO TV series.
“I never actually watched the Sopranos when it came out, and it has been a pretty wild experience to dive into my father’s work,” said lead actor Michael Gandolfini. “To prepare for the film, I binge watched the entirety of The Sopranos, really studying my dad’s movements and ticks. Then, I watched Tim Burton’s Batman, Batman Begins, Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, Joker, and several episodes of Batman: The Animated Series. I think going to be really exciting for fans to go back and watch the original Sopranos run with all the information from the movie, seeing how old scenes from the show are different now that they’re intimately familiar with the downfall of Christopher’s father, as well as the brutal murder of Thomas and Martha Wayne at the hands of Tony Soprano.”
Although little is known about the scene thus far, photos captured of the set reveal that a significant chunk of the plot revolves around the fact that the 1920 silent film The Mask of Zorro is playing in 1970s northern New Jersey. How the Soprano crime family is potentially involved in the illegal activities of those playing the film are still unknown.
At press time, leaked photos from the set, however, revealed that Peter Parker’s Uncle Ben will also feature in the film, and will be murdered by a young Paulie Walnuts for good measure.
