Gandolfini Tied to HBO

James Gandolfini, the star of the hit series 'The Sopranos' has just signed a deal with the pay-cable network and its specialty film distribution division, Picturehouse, according to which, for the next three years, he is to work exclusively with them.

The deal stipulates that, after the end of 'The Sopranos' series, that brought him no less than three Emmy Awards, Gandolfini will develop projects only for HBO.

'"The Sopranos" is a landmark in TV, and the gifted James Gandolfini is one of the reasons for the show's remarkable success. I'm delighted that he will continue to work with the network after the end of the series', Chris Albrecht, HBO Chairman and CEO said yesterday.

In order to comply with his part of the deal, the actor will launch his own production company, Attaboy Films that will oversee his next project, the 'Hemingway' biopic. The film, to be released at an unspecified date, features Gandolfini as the gifted writer and focuses on his relationship with war reporter Martha Gellhorn.

Another project currently in the making is 'Occupation Iraq', a documentary about the lives of US soldiers in Iraq, produced by Gandolfini and Alex Ryan. James also stars in 'Where the Wild Things Are', 'All the King's Men' (with Sean Penn, Jude Law and Kate Winslet) and 'Lonely Hearts' (with John Travolta).