By Creative Media Times

In a stroke of casting genius, Michael Gandolfini, son of the late James Gandolfini, is set to play the iconic role of Tony Soprano in the upcoming Sopranos prequel movie, Deadline reports.

Michael, 19, is set to play a young Tony Soprano in “The Many Saints of Newark,” a film that tells the background story of the crime drama television series. Most recently, he is on the TV period drama series “The Deuce.”

Alan Taylor (Thor: The Dark World, Terminator Genisys) is set to direct the movie for New Line. The film is written by The Sopranos creator and writer David Chase as well as show writer Lawrence Konner who collaborated with Chase on the late 80s TV series “Almost Grown”.

Also in the cast are Vera Farmiga, Alessandro Nivola, Jon Bernthal, Billy Magnussen, and Corey Stoll.

Though no official synopsis has been released, the film will be set during the Newark riots in July, 1967, centering on Tony’s uncle Dickie Moltisanti (Nivola). The film’s release date is yet to be announced.

Regarded by many as one of the greatest TV series ever, The Sopranos ran for six seasons from January 10, 1999 to June 10, 2007.