The star of the upcoming "The Sopranos" prequel says a young Tony Soprano will be a part of the film — but had good reason to be careful about how much else he revealed about "The Many Saints of Newark."
Alessandro Nivola talked to The Associated Press about the project on the red carpet Wednesday before a panel discussion led by creator David Chase to celebrate the 20th anniversary of "The Sopranos" in New York.
"I guess I got to be kind of discreet about it, so David Chase doesn't kill me," Nivola said. "I'm playing Dickie Moltisanti, who is the central character in the movie, and he is Christopher Moltisanti's dad."
Christopher Moltisanti, who was played by Michael Imperioli in the series, was a protege of Tony Soprano, the New Jersey mob boss portrayed by James Gandolfini.
Though the elder Moltisanti never appeared in the series, he is often mentioned as part of Christopher's backstory. The father was gunned down when Christopher was young and Nivola said the film will explore the interlocking history of Dickie Moltisanti and Soprano.
"Tony will be a character in the film, and as was mentioned throughout 'The Sopranos' series, my character was an important person in his life, and it examines that relationship as well," Nivola said.
The film begins in 1967 with the backdrop of the race riots that tore through Newark, New Jersey. Nivola said racial tension is "a big part of the story."
Nivola cited "weird coincidences" that told him this role was meant for him, including the fact that his real-life neighbor is Tim Van Patten, who directed many episodes of "The Sopranos."
Another coincidence connects his own family to the show: An episode in the second season shows Soprano visiting Naples, Italy, and in one of the scenes, just over Gandolfini's shoulder, is seen a sculpture — made by Nivola's grandfather, the artist Constantino Nivola. "So it was meant to be or something," Alessandro Nivola said.
Chase will produce "The Many Saints of Newark" and has written the script with "The Sopranos" writer Lawrence Konner. Alan Taylor, who helmed episodes of "The Sopranos," ''Mad Men" and "Game of Thrones," will direct. "The Many Saints of Newark" begins shooting in April.
"So, I got a little time to hang out in social clubs before then," Nivola joked.
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JOHANNESBURG (AP) — The South African government and advocacy groups for the country's Afrikaner white minority on Wednesday rejected the Trump administration's position that there's a humanitarian emergency affecting white people in South Africa.
The argument served as the administration's rationale for raising the U.S. refugee cap, but only for white Afrikaners. The Trump administration said Tuesday that it will admit an additional 10,000 white South Africans into the U.S. as refugees this year, increasing its annual quota, but blocking people from other countries from entering through the program.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced he was increasing the refugee cap for white South Africans because of “an unforeseen emergency refugee situation.” He blamed the South African government for “recent increases in the incitement of racially motivated violence,” but gave no specific information.
South African Foreign Ministry spokesperson Chrispin Phiri said accusations of systemic persecution of Afrikaners were unfounded and that some beneficiaries of the refugee program have chosen to return to South Africa.
Around 6,000 South Africans have moved to the U.S. since the Afrikaner program started last year, according to the U.S. government.
Afrikaner trade union Solidariteit said refugee status isn't a viable solution for Afrikaners, who should thrive in South Africa instead. Spokesman Jaco Kleynhans said the organization didn't know about any "unforeseen emergency refugee situation" for Afrikaners but respected the autonomy of U.S. refugee policy.
The union “is in no way aware of anything that the Trump administration could be referring to,” Kleynhans said.
AfriForum, a lobbying organization for the country’s white Afrikaner minority with more than 300,000 members, said it “does not have information” regarding the specific assertion that there's an emergency refugee situation.
The organization’s CEO, Kallie Kriel, said the group’s focus is “fighting to create the circumstances in South Africa where there is no need for Afrikaners to leave.”
Trump suspended the U.S. refugee program on his first day in office and has turned it into a vehicle to allow Afrikaners — white South Africans descended mainly from Dutch settlers — into the United States. Advocates say the decision to focus a decades-old program on one group has left people around the world fleeing war and strife stranded and with few options.
Refugee groups have questioned why white South Africans are being prioritized ahead of people from countries facing war and natural disasters. Vetting for refugee status in the U.S. often takes years.
The Trump administration’s preference for white Afrikaner refugee admissions raises questions about selective humanitarianism, inconsistent refugee protection and favoring privileged groups while ignoring others experiencing severe hardships, according to Bryony Fox, a social justice researcher at South Africa's Stellenbosch University.
“This risks politicizing refugee protection in a way that may ultimately weaken the legitimacy and universality of the refugee regime itself,” she said.
AP Africa news: https://apnews.com/hub/africa
FILE - President Donald Trump greets South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, center, at the White House, May 21, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, File)
