James Gandolfini to Star in New HBO Pilot
James Gandolfini could be returning to HBO soon. Deadline reports that the Sopranos star has been tapped to play the lead role in the network’s new pilot, Criminal Justice, based on the BBC series of the same name.
According to reports, Gandolfini will play a unkempt jailhouse lawyer who finds a young Pakistani American man in jail (Ahmed) and decides to be his attorney. The original series spanned two five-episode seasons from 2008-2009, with each season tracking a murder suspect as they progress through the justice system.
Gandolfini has also signed on as executive producer for the project, which is set to begin shooting this fall. He joins writer Richard Price, director Steven Zaillian and cast members Rizwan Ahmed, Bill Camp, Peyman Moadi and Poorna Jagannathan.
Gandolfini’s latest film, Killing Them Softly, hits theaters in November.