Gandolfini boards 'Pelham' production

LOS ANGELES, March 24 (UPI) -- Television star James Gandolfini reportedly has signed on to play the mayor of New York City in the upcoming remake of the thriller "The Taking of Pelham 123."

Gandolfini is best known for his Emmy Award-winning portrayal of New Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano on the HBO drama "The Sopranos."

He will play a supporting role in "Pelham," which co-stars Denzel Washington and John Travolta, and which is being directed by Tony Scott, Variety.com said.

Gandolfini previously played a gangster in Scott's 1993 film "True Romance."

In "Pelham," he will play the mayor of New York City who is dealing with the fact a subway car filled with passengers has been taken hostage by a gang of criminals, the trade paper said.