The Sopranosdocumentary,Wise Guy: David Chase and the Sopranos, was an honest look at one of the most popular shows ever through the eyes of its enigmatic, and occasionally prickly, creator David Chase. Notably, his prequel movie,The Many Saints of Newark, is not even mentioned, despite coming out only a few years earlier.The Sopranosis one ofthe greatest TV shows of all time, undeniably in the top three ever, rotating within the ranking generally depending on the last time the viewer watched it. Created by David Chase, it’s lasted as a defining cultural touchstone.
It’s hard to leaveThe Sopranosalone. There’s just so much to mine about the themes of America, wealth, and family, it seems even more relevant and prescient every year that passes. Kudos to David Chase for generally staying away from his creation for as long as possible, but even someone as spotlight-averse as him, eventually had to return. First, there was the prequelThe Many Saints of Newarkin 2021, and then there was the insightful TV documentary,Wise Guy: David Chase and the Sopranos. Tellingly,Chase does not mention his movie in the documentary that followed.
David Chase Did Not Enjoy Getting His Movie Made
Maybe the number one reasonThe Many Saints of Newarkis not so much as mentioned inWise Guyis thatDavid Chase may have some complicated feelings on his prequel film.Set years before the start ofThe Sopranos,The Many Saints of Newarkwas an unexpected but then hugely anticipated film. It was a chance to return toThe Sopranosuniverse with David Chase’s strong guiding hand at the helm. However, there were some problems right out of the gate that may have soured Chase a bit on the whole experience.
The Sopranos: Why David Chase Changed The Original Ending
Why did David Chase change the original ending of his HBO series The Sopranos? Here’s why the initial version involving Johnny Sack needed a tweak.
For one thing, David Chase did not likethe first cut ofThe Many Saints of Newark. While speaking onThe Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatterpodcast, Chase suggested he was having some issues with production for the film,
“I didn’t like the movie. I know [the scenes from reshoots made the movie better]. I mean, I saw the difference.”
Working alongside his director, Alan Taylor, Chase wroteThe Many Saints of Newarkand had a big hand in the look and feel of the film, so when he saw the first cut of the movie, it must have come as quite a shock. It could be that because he was no longer directing, Chase was not afforded the same amount of control he was accustomed to onThe Sopranos. Then,Chase butted heads again with HBO, and in this regard, it seems that the occasionally volatile Chase had good reason to be frustrated with the media company.
By that time, HBO had changed its whole release plan and Chase’s movie was released on the streamer and in theaters simultaneously, against Chase’s wishes.
Production forThe Many Saints of Newarkbegan in April 2019, just as the COVID-19 pandemic was building, and production, like everything in Hollywood, had to be postponed. Shooting eventually resumed, and it was released on Jun 25, 2025, nearly a year after the original release date of August 07, 2025 (viaDeadline). By that time, HBO had changed its whole release plan and Chase’s movie was released on the streamer and in theaters simultaneously, against Chase’s wishes.
Chase was frustrated that the film was released at home and in theaters at the same time, and when asked how he felt about that decision, he said (viaDeadline),
“I don’t think, frankly that I would’ve taken the job if I knew it was going to be a day-and-date release. I think it’s awful.”
The particularly enraging part for Chase was that he wanted this movie to be considered outside ofThe Sopranosecosystem, and not be unfairly compared against it. He thought his film had to, “…shed that television image,” and by putting it back on the streamer, HBO had totally missed the point. While Chase does seem pleased with what he made, in May 2023, he made a comment suggesting that maybe it wasn’t perfect. In an interview with Drea de Matteo andGQ, De Matteo was asked if she likedThe Many Saints of Newarkin front of Chase.
Drea de Matteo played Adriana La Cerva inThe Sopranos.
De Matteo said no emphatically, much to Chase’s amusement, who laughed and responded,
“We should have rewatched the show before making the movie.”
Whether he’s just playing along with De Matteo or has actually considered whether he could have used more time on the movie is anyone’s guess, butit seems like all the issues he faced in production are enough so that he won’t bring it up in a documentary likeWise Guyunless asked.
The Many Saints Of Newark Was A Disappointing Follow-Up To The Sopranos
The Prequel Tried To Tell Too Many Stories
The Many Saints of Newarkdidn’t work either on its own or as a way to go back to the belovedSopranosuniverse. While the performances for the most part are excellent, save for a fewSNL-like impressions of famous characters that can be frustrating at best and laugh-worthy at worst,The Many Saints of Newarkis too overstuffed for any one part of it to work. David Chase waited years to return toThe Sopranosand, in that time, he must have had a lot of ideas, and he ended up trying to cram them all into his film.
Nothing could tarnish the legacy ofThe Sopranos, but it’s a bummer that one of the few new entries in the series was a letdown.
There are at least four different stories inThe Many Saints of Newarkand only one of them ends in a somewhat satisfactory way. The intertwining plotlines inThe Sopranoswere spooled together to create something vibrant and strong, but there isn’t enough time in a movie for plots about Dickie Moltisanti, Tony Soprano, race riots, and the Jersey mob to all feel complete. SoThe Many Saints of Newarkfeels unfinished. Nothing could tarnish the legacy ofThe Sopranos, but it’s a bummer that one of the few new entries in the series was a letdown.
Wise Guy Is About The Making Of The Sopranos, Not The Sopranos Itself
The Many Saints Of Newark Is Not Why So Many People Love The Sopranos
It’s a good thing thatThe Many Saints of Newarkis not a part ofWise Guy: David Chase and the Sopranos.The Sopranosdocumentary is about David Chase and the experience people had filming the iconic series. It’s not about David Chase’s career overall, andThe Many Saints of Newarkis much more interesting when discussed in that context.Wise Guyis a fantastic documentary that explores the particularities of Chase as a showrunner, and how he interacted with the large and varied cast and crew he wrangled for eight years.
Chase’s relationship with James Gandolfiniis of particular note in the documentary, showcasing their contentious attitudes to one another that somehow resulted in one of the greatest performances and TV shows in the history of the medium.The Many Saints of Newarkis an admirable attempt at returning to his iconic series, and it’s good David Chase still feels the urge to create. But it doesn’t belong inThe Sopranosdocumentary.The Sopranosis something different entirely, and a prequel that came years after the show doesn’t get to the core of whatWise Guywants to show.
