Gandolfini to star in The Taking of Pelham 123

James Gandolfini will be adding another dance to his card as he makes a deal to star in The Taking of Pelham 123 alongside

Variety.com reports:

Gandolfini will play the mayor of New York City in Columbia Pictures remake “The Taking of Pelham 123,” directed by Tony Scott and starring Denzel Washington and John Travolta.

Gandolfini will plays a pol under incredible pressure to end a crisis when a packed subway car is ransomed by a criminal (Travolta) and his gang.

James Gandolfini will forever be recognised as Tony Soprano from HBOs hit series of the same surname. But so he seems to have dodged a bullet as far as being typecast as a gangster. The casting rumours about Gandolfini playing a gangster in Batman: The Dark Knight never came to pass either.

I half qualify his role as a politician to the typecast he hoped to avoid. No, I don’t thinkg politicians are criminals. But the role of a city’s leader would have the same qualities that made his Tony Soprano so believable. He is a respected leader with charisma and presence. Decisions that affect the lives of many will be falling on his shoulders.

So is this typecasting? or just dangerously close?