Before Severance, John Turturro Starred in HBO's Best Crime Drama With 94% on RT
The actor replaced James Gandolfini, who starred in the first episode.
In 2016, a series that would become a cult classic in the narrow circles of fans of quiet but tense dramas was released – The Night Of.
And for good reason – the show has a brilliant team: Schindler's List screenwriter Steven Zaillian as showrunner, There Will Be Blood cinematographer Robert Elswit, then little-known Riz Ahmed and Severance star John Turturro in the lead roles.
What Is The Night Of About?
On his way to a party, Nasir (Riz Ahmed) meets a charming girl who invites him to her place. After a few drinks, the young man wakes up next to the woman's body.
He has the murder weapon in his hands, fingerprints are all over the house, several people have seen Naz with the victim – the guy has no memory of the events of the previous night and it seems that he will not be able to get out of a harsh sentence.
But lawyer John Stone (John Turturro) takes on the defense of the man, for whom winning this legal battle is a matter of honor.
The Night of Is a Suspenseful Crime Story of the Highest Quality
The Night Of is immediately captivating – thanks to the charming main character, strong plot and many details, the first episode does not give the viewer a reason to take his eyes off the screen for a second.
In addition, the show is really mature – if there is a murder, it will be bloody, and if professionals are involved in the investigation, then they are of the highest class.
Finally, with evidence and clues scattered throughout the story, and traps set in dark corners, The Night Of cleverly makes the viewer a full-fledged participant in the investigation.
James Gandolfini Was Supposed to Play the Role of John Stone
The pilot episode of The Night Of was shot in 2012, and at that time the role of the lawyer was played by James Gandolfini. While the creators were waiting for a decision from HBO, the star of The Sopranos suddenly died, and the fate of the project became even more unclear.
Later, Robert De Niro was invited to play this role, and he initially agreed, but then found himself a more attractive offer.
Only then did John Turturro come on board, who said it was strange for him to replace Gandolfini:
“It felt a little strange, because James and I were very good friends. We worked together, and we had been wanting to work together again.”
But Turturro did an excellent job, and Gandolfini's participation in the project did not go unnoticed. He is listed in the credits as an executive producer.