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James Gandolfini arrives on the red carpet for the world premiere of "All The King's Men" during the Toronto International Film Festival at Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto, Canada on September 10, 2006. (UPI Photo/Christine Chew)

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.