Italian actress Michela De Rossi has been cast in a “pivotal role” in “The Sopranos” prequel “The Many Saints of Newark” as the film begins production next week, an individual with knowledge of the project told TheWrap.

De Rossi joins Alessandro Nivola, Vera Farmiga, Ray Liotta, Jon Bernthal, Corey Stoll, Billy Magnussen, John Magaro and Michael Gandolfini in the ensemble drama set during in the Newark riots in the ’60s. She’ll play an “ambitious” Italian immigrant who comes to America to settle in Newark, New Jersey.