The lore of “The Sopranos” is dissected in buzzy two-part documentary “Wise Guy: David Chase and ‘The Sopranos.’”
The feature, which debuted at Tribeca 2024, is directed by Academy Award winner Alex Gibney, who once again partners with HBO after helming “The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley” and “Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief.” Per the official synopsis, the documentary “delves deep into the psyche of renowned ‘Sopranos’ creator and writer, David Chase, to illuminate his life and career while offering a unique window into his unparalleled work on the iconic program.”
Of course, as “Sopranos” fans know, the series debuted 25 years ago in 1999.
For “Wise Guy,” director Gibney puts series creator Chase in the psychiatrist’s chair to analyze the origins of the iconic show that drew upon his own upbringing in north New Jersey. Lorraine Bracco, Edie Falco, Michael Imperioli, Drea de Matteo, and Steven Van Zandt are among the former cast members who also appear in the documentary. Late stars James Gandolfini, Tony Sirico, and Nancy Marchand are shown in archival interviews. The film also features early audition videos from the stars, as well as behind-the-scenes footage.
“Wise Guy” stars Chase, “The Sopranos” writer/producer Robin Green, “The Sopranos” writer/producer Terence Winter, and “The Sopranos” writer/producer Frank Renzulli. Former chairman and CEO of HBO Chris Albrecht, and former president of HBO Entertainment Carolyn Strauss additionally appear.
The two-part film begins with Chase’s biography and the beginning of “The Sopranos,” which was originally written as a film about a mobster whose mother plots to kill him. He later repurposed the script into the HBO series. Part Two of the documentary, which airs immediately after Part One, follows Chase as he recounts the challenges of mapping out 13-episode arcs and finding the right tone for the series. Chase also talks about the enduring love for Tony Soprano, played by late actor Gandolfini, and how the show dealt with the controversial finale.
“Wise Guy” is produced by Ophelia Harutyunyan and director Gibney, with Nicole Lambert, Richard Perello, and Stacey Offman executive producing. For HBO, the executive producers are Nancy Abraham, Lisa Heller, and Sara Rodriguez.
“Wise Guy: David Chase and ‘The Sopranos’” premieres September 7 at 8 p.m. ET on HBO and will be available to stream on Max. Check out the trailer below.
