David Chase has shed definitive light on the divisive conclusion.
Widely considered one of the best television shows of all time, The Sopranos has been back in the news lately with the release of prequel film The Many Saints of Newark.
Promoting the movie, co-writer and Sopranos creator David Chase appeared on The Hollywood Reporter's Awards Chatter podcast for a wide-ranging discussion about his career and the two projects.
As can be expected, the conversation turned to the show's final episode "Made in America" and its infamous closing moments, on which Chase had previously been reluctant to provide a definitive answer.
However, the creator has now finally explained what ultimately happened to gangster Tony Soprano.
So, for those who haven't seen the show and don't want it spoiled or those who just want to keep the mystery alive, turn away now.
Are you gone? Okay.
Fans know that the series ended with Tony meeting with his family in a restaurant, constantly looking over his shoulder as if something bad was going to happen, before an abrupt cut to black.
In the new interview, Chase reveals this ending was not the one he first envisioned.
"I had a scene in which Tony comes back from a meeting in New York in his car," he said.
"At the beginning of every show, he came from New York into New Jersey, and the last scene could be him coming from New Jersey back into New York for a meeting at which he was going to be killed."
Asked where the show's finale came from, Chase made the reveal about Tony's fate:
"I was driving on Ocean Park Boulevard near the airport and I saw a little restaurant. It was kind of like a shack that served breakfast. And for some reason I thought, 'Tony should get it in a place like that.' Why? I don’t know. That was, like, two years before."
So, in Chase's mind, Tony did indeed die after the fade to black.
However, the showrunner also explained why he did not depict the killing, stating it "bothered" him how many people wanted to see the character perish.
"They wanted to know that Tony was killed. They wanted to see him go face-down in linguini, you know?
"And I just thought, God, you watched this guy for seven years and I know he’s a criminal. But don’t tell me you don’t love him in some way, don’t tell me you’re not on his side in some way.
"And now you want to see him killed? You want justice done? You’re a criminal after watching this shit for seven years.”
For more Sopranos content, check out JOE's recent interviews with the cast and crew of The Many Saints of Newark, including Chase himself, over on our YouTube page.
