David Chase Reflects on 'The Sopranos' and Introduces HBO's Project: MKUltra

David Chase, the acclaimed creator of The Sopranos, spoke at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival on July 4, 2023, discussing his iconic series and his upcoming HBO project, Project: MKUltra. Chase, a seven-time Emmy winner, shared insights into his creative journey and the evolving landscape of television.

Chase's New Project: MKUltra

Chase is currently adapting John Lisle's nonfiction book, Project Mind Control: Sidney Gottlieb, the CIA and the Tragedy of MKULTRA, into a limited series titled Project: MKUltra. This drama will mark his first HBO project since the prequel film of The Sopranos. Chase revealed, "I'm in the story stage" and elaborated on the historical context of the project, stating, "LSD was invented in Switzerland, developed in Switzerland and our CIA bought millions and millions and millions of dollars of it because they wanted to weaponize it."

Chase further explained that the CIA's intent was to explore the potential of LSD as a non-lethal weapon, saying, "They said maybe we can [do that so] that people won't have to get shot anymore in a war; they'll just go crazy." He referenced the infamous MKUltra program, which involved testing LSD on various subjects, and mentioned the possibility that Charles Manson may have been a participant.

The Enduring Legacy of The Sopranos

During the festival, Chase expressed his gratitude for the lasting impact of The Sopranos. He remarked, "Obviously, my heart explodes. It makes me feel so good," but also acknowledged his concerns about the show's longevity. Chase noted, "I’ve always been worried about Sopranos. I thought for sure that a lot of the references wouldn’t work after a while, especially the comedic references." Despite these worries, he remains proud of the series, which premiered in 1999 and won 21 Emmys over its six-season run.

Chase shared a personal reflection, stating, "It’s the high point of my creative life." However, he also mentioned a specific change he would make if given the chance: "We did a show where they went to Italy, and I would change that. I think we made the woman in the show too sexy and too hot."

The Current State of Television

Chase also discussed the current landscape of television, expressing concerns about the willingness to take creative risks. He noted, "If HBO hadn’t sought that out, it wouldn’t have been there." He feels that today's television resembles network formats, with more restrictions on content. Chase stated, "It feels more like network television again – [there are] just things you can’t do. ‘Don’t say this, don’t do that!'"

The conversation included Chase's journey to bringing The Sopranos to life. Initially, he intended to create it as a movie, but it was HBO's interest in a series that made it a reality. He reminisced, "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!'"