‘Sopranos’ Creator David Chase Feared James Gandolfini Wasn’t ‘Threatening Enough’ to Play Tony Soprano

The late James Gandolfini made Tony Soprano one of the most iconic characters in television history, but he almost missed out on the role due to a specific concern from the show’s creator, David Chase.

In Jason Bailey’s new biography about the beloved actor, Gandolfini: Jim, Tony, and the Life of a Legend, an excerpt of which was published by Vulture, the author and historian shares details of The Sopranos casting process, which includes a story from Nancy Sanders, one of Gandolfini’s managers.