James Gandolfini's performance as Tony Soprano helped to make HBO the cultural juggernaut it is today, but the actor and network star were at odds in the lead-up to The Sopranosseason 5, leading to the actor suing the company and delaying the release of the season. Gandolfini sued the network for breach of contract, with the goal of negotiating for more money. The lawsuit delayed the filming and release of season 5, but ultimately benefitted the crew of the show and perhaps HBO's original programmingThe Sopranos was a major breakout hit for HBO, whose original shows had previously been overshadowed by the traditional TV networks.
When James Gandolfini won the Emmy for Best Actor in a Drama after The Sopranos season 1, it was a major landmark for both actor and network. As a result, Gandolfini had already renegotiated his contract to double his pay before season 2.
After initially struggling to get the show made, The Sopranos creator David Chase negotiated a $20 million deal to return for season 5. James Gandolfini's contract required him to be notified of any such change within 10 days, and when this didn't happen, he launched a lawsuit against HBO.
The goal of the suit was to allow Gandolfini to negotiate for more pay, either through a settlement with the network or by voiding his current contract.
At the time, Gandolfini was making $400, 000 per episode of The Sopranos. While this isn't a small amount of money, it didn't compare well with the salaries of network TV stars.
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