HBO and The Sopranos creator David Chase are negotiating a deal with Steve Buscemi to play a recurring character on the series, as well as direct episodes, says Variety. Buscemi has made a commitment to be available for two seasons, in the event that Chase decides to go beyond a fifth season that is about to begin production.

Buscemi is currently shooting Big Fish for director Tim Burton at Columbia, and he is expected to join the "Sopranos" cast for work shortly after.

Buscemi's double deal is a welcome sign to "Sopranos" faithful that the show is back on track, as the network and James Gandolfini end a bitter and protracted stalemate that left some fearing the mob drama might sleep with the fishes.

Steve Buscemi rocks!

While Steve gets as an actor, I'm not so crazy about this. I always felt that Joe Pantiolano was too famous to be a regular on the Sopranos and I found him distracting. I worry that Steve might come across the same way. Now if they can give him a look like he has in Pulp Fiction, so it's not so glaringly obvious, that might work okay.

Big Buscemi fan here, so definitely excited.

I love Steve Buscemi. He's another great character actor like Joey Pants, so it could work very well. What I'm not excited about is the thought of it going beyond a fifth season. Let's hope David Chase is smarter than that.

That's cool!

Sweet. I wonder how his character will die.

That is very interesting... first Cathy Bates directs a few episodes on Six Feet Under and then appears as a recurring character. Now Steve Buscemi is about to do the same on The Sopranos. Only on HBO...

If we're starting a pool, I have dibs on wood chipper.

I totally agree. IMO, the show is better at casting unknowns because they seem all that more "real". I am a big Buscemi fan as well, I just hope he is not too distracting.

Myyy precious.. Sorry, couldn't help it.

Cool. Seems like the shows he directed were some of the best ones of the series.

Dave

Steve's the coolest!

Wonder if he will play a character related to Ralphie? I've always thought that they seemed similar in acting styles and voice.

and a great human being, if the stories about his participation in the days following 9/11 are true.....

"he's got the whole world...in his hands....."


steve rocks

Little known fact: Kathy Bates directed the failed tv pilot of "Fargo". Edie Falco played Marge Gunderson in it.

i think it should be good.. I really enjoy Steve Buscemi in pretty much everything he's in though i won't find out for a long time since i wait til they come out on DVD before watching them

I bet he'll be a bad tipper on the show.

Cough up a buck, yah cheap bastahd.