James Gandolfini in "The Sopranos" |
HOLLYWOOD - HBO has put out its own hit, legally speaking, on star James Gandolfini.The cabler filed a $100 million countersuit on Tuesday against the actor, who plays mob boss Tony Soprano on the show The Sopranos, to force him back to work when it resumes taping later this month, Reuters reports.
This is in response to Gandolfini's suit filed last week against HBO, in which he claims the cable network was in breach of contract by not informing him when the fifth season had been ordered.
Bert Fields, the attorney for HBO and Soprano Productions, who filed the countersuit in Los Angeles Superior Court, told Reuters that the actor had been properly informed about new filming and that Gandolfini's suit "is frivolous" and part of the actor's bid to raise his salary.
He said the producers exercised their option to pick up Gandolfini's contract for two seasons and estimated their losses at $100 million if he doesn't show up.
Gandolfini made light of his legal troubles on Sunday after winning the Screen Actors Guild award for best actor in a drama series. "Enjoy what you can now, because things get pretty weird once it works," he quipped.
According to Reuters, the actor told reporters backstage, "I am sure everything will be fine" and when asked how much he wanted to be with the show, he hemmed and hawed and finally smiled sheepishly, saying, "You know."
The Sopranos cast will begin shooting new episodes on March 24.