Fresh off his turn in the mafia prequelThe Many Saints of Newark,Michael Gandolfiniis tackling another iconic mob story — this time, as part of a biography series.Varietyreports that the young star has joined the cast ofThe Offer, a new series for Paramount+ chronicling the making ofThe Godfather. Gandolfini joins the cast alongside Zack Schor, rounding out a cast that also includesMiles Teller,Matthew Goode, andGiovanni Ribisi.
Gandolfini boards the ten-episode series as Andy Calhoun, a savvy businessman on the hunt to buy Paramount, the studio that would go on to produceThe Godfatherand its respective sequels. He joins star Teller as Albert S. Ruddy, the Oscar-winning producer responsible for getting the 1972 film off the ground, and Schor as assistant director Fred Gallo. Goode and Ribisi star as Robert Evans and Joe Colombo, with additional starsColin Hanks,Dan Fogler, andJuno Temple.
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The Offerfollows Gandolfini’s breakout success as a young Tony Soprano inMany Saints, succeeding his late fatherJames Gandolfinifor the origin story of the HBO mob boss. While the young actor pivots to telling a real-life story rather than a fictional one, the story ofThe Offeris no less interesting than that ofThe Sopranos, telling the tumultuous tale of adaptingMario Puzo’s novel for the screen, with multiple directors turning down potential offers and Paramount landing Puzo’s manuscript for less than $100,000.
Also starringNora Arnezeder,Lou Ferrigno, andBurn Gorman, Ruddy himself serves as executive producer onThe Offeralongside Teller and creatorMichael Toklin.Nikki Toscanoserves as writer and showrunner, with additional executive producersLeslie GreifandDexter Fletcher, the latter of whom will direct the first block of episodes for the series. No production or release dates have been announced.
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