HBO paid Gandolfini 3 Mil to not take a role in The Office

[MenacingMonk]

The duo talk to guest Ricky Gervais, who created the original UK version of the series, which was later adapted for American TV along wish Greg Daniels and star Steve Carell. Upon Carell's exit, Imperioli made the revelation. "You know, they talked about having Gandolfini at one point replace him, did you know that?" he said. Schirripa expanded on the story to Gervais' surprise. "I think before James Spader and after [Steve] Carell, they offered Jim — I want to say $4 million — to play him for the season, and HBO paid him $3 million not to do it. That's a fact."

When Gervais called it a "good decision", Schirripa explained Gandolfini's initial interest was "because he hadn't worked and it was a number of years removed from when the show ended." The Office ran on NBC for nine seasons from 2005-2013 whereas The Sopranos ran for six seasons from 1999-2007. Gandolfini passed in 2013. The comedian inquired "So they paid him that to keep the legacy of The Sopranos pure?" with Schirripa pointing the actor's existing deal with HBO. "I guess that and also he had a deal with them. He was doing The Night Of, developing that."

The Sopranos Co-Stars Talk James Gandolfini Nearly Joining The Office

I wonder if they woulda had him be similar to Tony if he took the role.

 

[humminbird]

I can see why
sadly some people would let his appearance in the office ruin the sopranos because they would remember the office scenes
a teenager will watch the office before they watch the sopranos
I'm guessing his role would probably be something like a strict boss who may or may not have been in the mafia. him maybe being a part of a witness protection program would also be part of the joke

 

[Max.]

He woulda been hilarious