Sopranos star Steven Van Zandt has written a TV show about three brothers – a rock star, a gangster and a FBI agent – and he wants Johnny Depp to take a starring role
Stevie Van Zandt, known for his career-defining role in HBO's The Sopranos and longstanding partnership with Bruce Springsteen, has branched into screenwriting with ambitions to see his work produced. The 75-year-old has completed scripts for six potential television series, drawing on his previous acting experience in prestige projects including Martin Scorsese's The Irishman and the Netflix dramedy Lilyhammer, and remains eager to attach himself to a new production that matches his creative vision.
Among his catalogue, Van Zandt identifies "Nobody Loves and Leaves Alive" as his favoured script—a dramedy exploring the lives of three brothers whose careers span rock music, gangsterism, and federal law enforcement. Van Zandt plans to perform in multiple roles within the production and has publicly expressed his interest in securing talent for the project, signalling ambitions to realise the work with backing from a major network or streaming platform.
- Van Zandt, a 75-year-old Sopranos alumnus and E Street Band guitarist, has written six television scripts and actively seeks production backing for at least one
- His pet project is a dramedy centring on three brothers with distinct professions (rock musician, organised crime figure, federal agent), in which he intends to perform dual roles
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Van Zandt, best known for playing Silvio Dante in The Sopranos and for decades as a guitarist in Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, has also spent years writing television scripts, six in total, though none has yet made it to screen. He has drawn on his own acting background in shows like Lilyhammer and films such as The Irishman to shape these projects, and is now actively trying to get one of them made by a network or streaming service.
The script he is most keen to see produced is called Nobody Loves and Leaves Alive, a dramedy following three brothers who each take very different paths in life: one becomes a rock musician, one a gangster, and one an FBI agent. Van Zandt intends to act in the show himself, taking on more than one role, and has said publicly that he would like Johnny Depp involved as a lead cast member.
Johnny Depp is a veteran Hollywood actor whose career has included major franchises such as Pirates of the Caribbean, though in recent years he has also been the subject of considerable public and legal controversy, including a high-profile defamation trial. Any project linking his name to a new television role tends to attract attention, making Van Zandt's comments notable even though no deal or casting has been confirmed.