‘The Sopranos’ Creator David Chase on What He’d Change About the Beloved Show

David Chase got candid about the lasting impact of "The Sopranos," admitting that praise still makes him uneasy. The acclaimed creator also revealed the one scene from the series he'd change if given the chance.

David Chase is reflecting on the success and his lingering doubts about his iconic show "The Sopranos."

The Emmy-winning filmmaker spoke about the series during his appearance at the 60th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF) in the Czech Republic on Tuesday, July 7.

David Chase attends the "HBO Max UK and Ireland" launch party at Queen Elizabeth Hall on March 25, 2026 in London, England. | Source: Getty Images

When asked about the lasting love global audiences have for "The Sopranos," Chase was somewhat modest. "Obviously, my heart explodes. It makes me feel so good. At the same time, you have seen the show, so you know what my mother was like," he shared.

"So, at the same time, feeling good like that is not allowed," he continued. "So when you say, 'I'm so happy people like it,' I say to myself, 'You sound so conceited.'"

"And if it has an effect on people and how they live, or on the politics, or the socioeconomic situation, sure, but that's not why I did it," Chase said. "My main goal was to be entertaining. But yeah, it's the high point of my creative life."

(L-R) Tony Sirico, Steven Van Zandt, James Gandolfini, Michael Imperioli & Vincent Pastore pose in a publicity still for the TV series "The Sopranos," circa 1999. | Source: Getty Images

"The Sopranos" isn't a direct autobiography, but Chase drew heavily from his own experiences when crafting the story. He wove his personal history, psychology, and New Jersey upbringing into the narrative, including his turbulent relationship with his mother.

Yet despite the show's enduring popularity, the acclaimed director doesn't believe its cultural relevance will last indefinitely.

(L-R) Steven Van Zandt as Silvio Dante, James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano and Tony Sirico as Paulie Walnuts star in HBO's hit television series, "The Sopranos," circa 2001. | Source: Getty Images

"I've always been worried about Sopranos," he revealed. "I thought for sure that a lot of the references wouldn't work after a while, especially the comedic references, or when you mention a real person."

"I thought that's going to fade away. It's going to happen, right? It hasn't happened yet, but we know it's going to happen," he said. And while Chase doesn't carry many major regrets, there's one storyline he'd revisit if he could.

"We did a show where they went to Italy, and I would change that," Chase shared. "I think we made the woman in the show too sexy and too hot. It just didn't seem real when I saw it."

Michael Imperioli as Christopher Moltisanti and Drea de Matteo as Adriana La Cerva star in HBO's hit television series, "The Sopranos," circa 2001. | Source: Getty Images

"The Sopranos" debuted in 1999 and went on to become one of the most acclaimed achievements in cable television history. The mafia drama and cultural phenomenon ran for six seasons, from 1999 to 2007, and collected 21 Emmy Awards along the way.

The series eventually spawned a small universe of its own. Chase later made his feature film directorial debut with 2012's "Not Fade Away," a coming-of-age story set in a U.S. suburb during the 1960s.

Dominic Chianese, Tony Sirico, Vincent Pastore, Steve Van Zandt & James Gandolfini in a scene from the HBO TV drama series "The Sopranos," circa 1999. | Source: Getty Images

"I wanted to do it as a movie at first, and my agent said, 'The mob is finished. People don't care anymore, forget it!' So I had that in my pocket for three years, and then HBO wanted me to do a series, and so I brought that back," he recalled.

"The mafia was kind of overused," he admitted, "but people who knew me told me that my mother was such a wild person and very funny that I had to do something about her. So I did."