Steven Van Zandt shines in Netflix’s ‘Lilyhammer’ just as much as he did in ‘The Sopranos’ with his portrayal of Silvio Dante.
‘Lilyhammer’ is a Norwegian-American television series that fans have regarded as a comedic alternative to ‘The Sopranos’. It chronicles the life of Frank “The Fixer” Tagliano, a former New York-based gangster trying to start a new life.
Highlights —
- Is ‘Lilyhammer’ a spin-off of ‘The Sopranos’?
- ‘The Sopranos’ was going to have a big reunion on Netflix’s ‘Lilyhammer’
- Will there be a season 4 of ‘Lilyhammer’?
The series premiered between 2012 and 2014 and was depicted against the backdrop of isolated Lillehammer in Norway. Starring Steven Van Zandt, Trond Fausa Aurvåg, Marian Saastad Ottesen, and Fridtjof Såheim among others, ‘Lilyhammer’ made viewers laugh through the most outrageous moments! It has often been compared to ‘The Sopranos’ because of lead actor Steven Van Zandt’s association with the series. Unlike the former’s story which chronicles a fictional mob boss, the leader of a criminal organization, Netflix’s ‘Lilyhammer’ offers more comedic dark humour. It’s superficial entertainment at its best.
The show’s fast-paced storyline will win the heart of any viewer who loves surprises every now and then. It was an ideal example of the magic that ensued when Netflix explored original programming, and fans have been hoping for its renewal ever since it ended. Keep reading to find out if ‘Lilyhammer’ is a spin-off of ‘The Sopranos’ or not!
Is ‘Lilyhammer’ a spin-off of ‘The Sopranos’?
There’s a lot more similarity between the two shows than just the inclusion of the same actor. Steven Van Zandt, who played Silvio Dante aka second-in-command to Tony Soprano, leads ‘Lilyhammer’ with his portrayal of Frank Tagliano. It’s not a spin-off of the mafia HBO series because why would the network license it to a streaming giant like Netflix?
Netflix’s decision to cast Van Zandt as the central character for its first-ever original series doesn’t seem like a simple coincidence. The actor has proved his mettle and it is true that no one could deliver a performance like him. It is also possible that the streaming service endeavoured to draw in viewers who were fans of the actor? We wouldn’t rule that option out! The comparison between the two comes to question once again since Frank Tagliano’s character is similar to the incarnation arc on ‘The Sopranos’. His attitude as Frank is unmistakable in reminding you of Silvio! His no-nonsense attitude and ability to make the viewer find humour in the most unexpected moment is priceless.
‘The Sopranos’ was going to have a big reunion on Netflix’s ‘Lilyhammer’
Actor Steven Van Zandt was planning the greatest reunion in television history on Netflix’s ‘Lilyhammer’! His former co-star James Gandolfini was expected to make a cameo on the series before his sudden death in 2013.
According to a report shared by “Express”, the actor made the revelation on “Big Morning Buzz Live”. He explained:
“We talked about him [Gandolfini] doing a cameo appearance in the final episode of the second season. I wrote a scene where my character was going through the snow and he comes to a cabin, he opens the cabin door and it was going to be Jimmy in his bathrobe and T-shirt, looking like [his character on] The Sopranos, and he was gonna say, ‘Frankie the Fixer, you’re here too?’”
The actor shared that he meant to have “some fun” with the end of ‘The Sopranos’ and imply that the series all went to Norway.” And then I was going to go into the cabin and [Gandolfini’s on-screen wife] Edie Falco was going to be there and the kids too.” The big reunion plan ended when James Gandolfini suffered a fatal heart attack in Italy.
Will there be a season 4 of ‘Lilyhammer’?
Sadly, no. Netflix has cancelled ‘Lilyhammer’ after three seasons because of deal complications with the show’s Norwegian broadcaster. The cancellation was finalized back in 2015 when the cast and crew made it public.
Although three seasons are too short for a series to be memorable, ‘Lilyhammer’ was successful in doing so. Noteworthy names like Bruce Springsteen and Paul Kaye even made appearances on the show in the most unexpected scenarios. There is quite the uproar among fans for the show’s renewal, but it doesn’t seem like the producers will be taking it into account.
Do you want to see a new season of Netflix’s ‘Lilyhammer’? Let us know in the comments section!
