By TeeJay Small | Published
Since The Sopranos ended in 2007, series creator David Chase has remained largely silent. Of course, he went out for anniversary events, wrote the The Sopranos the next movie Many Saints of Newarkand even directed the horror family drama of the same title It ignores it in 2012. Mostly, though, he remains as hidden and shadowy as possible, focused on the success of TV's biggest show. Things seem to be changing, however, now that Chase is developing its new services Project: MKultra.
According to Variety, David Chase began toying around with new ideas for the project during a recent appearance at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival in the Czech Republic. While addressing the crowd, the seven-time Emmy winner explained “I'd like to do a story … about four people, Italian Americans, who go back to the old country, and what surprises it has in store for them.” This idea was apparently inspired by Lorraine Bracco, who revealed Dr. Melfi to The Sopranosafter buying the cheapest property in Italy.
A Fish Out Of Water Scenario
Chase says he's interested in testing this idea, when the team The Sopranos-style directors move overseas to cash in on cheap Italian real estate, only to learn they're not as real Italian as they thought. “This is happening a lot lately,” Chase told the crowd, “Italian Americans are buying property in Italy … all kinds of Americans are buying these houses and moving there because things in our country are questionable.” He even expressed interest in joining his other former co-stars, including John Magaro, Jack Huston, Will Brill and Bella Heathcote.
If you The Sopranos super-fan, this premise should sound pretty familiar. Chase has explored themes of conflicting Italian-American identities in The Sopranos Episode 2 “Commendatori”. During that episode, Tony Soprano, Paulie Gualtieri, and Chris Moltisanti pack their bags and head to the boot for the first time, hoping to close a few new deals with their friends connected overseas. In doing so, they experience massive culture shock, switch to their Italian American accents, and meet Furio, who later joins the North Jersey team.
Ironically, David Chase himself has a cameo in the episode “Commendatori”. He plays a smelly Italian who turns his nose up at Paulie outside an espresso shop. This interaction, and many others like it, makes Paulie feel like a complete fish out of water, even though he has been identified as Italian his whole life. When these gangsters return home, they are surprised to learn that they find more comfort in the presence of McDonald's Golden Arches and Exxon Mobile gas stations than before Mount Vesuvius and the Trevi Fountain.
Personally, I would really like to see David Chase pursue this idea. I have my doubts about whether it will be as basic The Sopranosbut I'm sure there are millions of fans around the world who would love to find Chase's humorous take on the modern political climate, and the cultural divide between 'real' Italians and the gang you'd find punching on the Jersey shore boardwalk.
