The official trailer for The Many Saints of Newark may help explain what The Sopranos prequel title really means. The long-awaited prequel to David Chase’s original HBO series is set in the late 1960s and 1970s and will hit theaters and HBO Max on September 24, 2021. The title for this film is intriguing because it does not capitalize on the name recognition that the “Soprano” name carries, which means it must be significant to the story. It’s likely this lack of name recognition is what prompted the trailer to employ a marketing trick and focus on a young Tony Soprano.
This is plausible given that Tony will be played by the late James Gandolfini’s son, Michael Gandolfini, which is sure to attract audiences. Though the upcoming prequel’s plot remains unknown, the trailer certainly promises to feature an origin story for Tony Soprano. Still, the title of the film, The Many Saints of Newark may offer a greater insight into what the film will actually be about, and it’s not exactly Tony’s childhood. Tony’s childhood will likely be the film’s secondary story, which will allow Dickie Moltisanti to take the lead.
After all, Dickie Molisanti, Christopher’s father, is one of the most important people in Tony’s life to be never truly explored in The Sopranos. All audiences know for certain is that Tony had a remarkably close relationship with Dickie and thought of him as a father, rather than just as a father figure type. This is why Tony considers Christopher a nephew. Moreover, The Many Saints of Newark directly references the Moltisanti name. Additionally, the title also evokes religious imagery reminiscent of the original series and other mafia films that incorporate Catholicism in one form or another.
The name Moltisanti actually appears in the title of the prequel, albeit in its English translation. Moltisanti, in English, loosely translates to “many saints.” There is no way this is a coincidence. It’s further proof that the title’s explanation points to Dickie Moltisanti being the primary protagonist of the film. Dickie’s significance in the film shouldn’t come as a surprise given the little information that The Sopranos does provide on the character. The series referenced Dickie as a key player during this time who helped secure the Sopranos’ power in New Jersey and end a violent turf war.
The Many Saints of Newark could additionally be explained as a reference to religion in the six seasons of The Sopranos. This wouldn’t be entirely out of line, as Catholicism often plays a role in mafia-related films. Most notably, one may recall Francis Ford Coppola’s use of religious imagery in The Godfather during Michael’s “baptism.” Regardless, religion is a topic that was brought up a number of times over the course of the series. The conversation would typically feature Tony cast doubt on God’s active presence in the world, opting to believe in what is right in front of him.
Consequently, this may also help explain the prequel’s title. The Many Saints of Newark may hint at the public’s perception of Dickie Moltisanti and the Sopranos’ crew as protectors or saints of the community. This is a definite possibility as communities historically supported local mobs. The trailer does hint at violence on the streets and if Dickie and the Sopranos are the ones to restore peace, it would be extremely likely the community would regard them as saints. Perhaps this is the true explanation of The Many Saints of Newark title. It simply implies that Dickie and the Soprano family are the heroes of the story.
