(CNN) A planned movie prequel to "The Sopranos" TV series is keeping it in the family.

According to Deadline, Michael Gandolfini will play young Tony Soprano, the role that made his late father, James Gandolfini, famous.

"The Many Saints of Newark" will explore the life of the young mobster in the 1960s.

The feature script was co-written by "The Sopranos" creator David Chase with Lawrence Konner, who was one of the writers on the hit HBO series.

James Gandolfini died of a heart attack in 2013. He was 51.

Read More