We'll see how this prequel movie is. Can't imagine it being like The Sopranos without Gandolfini, though.
Considering they're making this movie, you have to believe that if Gandolfini were here they might have made a movie that picked up where The Sopranos left off. In one interview, David Chase defended the idea to an interviewer who said he hoped it wouldn't happen.
Gandolfini used to tell cast mates that there would be a movie "someday", so I think the idea of continuing it in some way with James was something long considered. Unfortunately Gandolfini's death made that impossible. I think if Chase knew Gandolfini was gonna die we would've had a much more definitive ending rather than one that 'hints' at Tony probably getting killed. He was leaving the door open either way.
