In possibly the most slap-your-forehead, well-obviously piece of casting since that time buck-toothed clown Ken Dodd played buck-toothed clown Yorick in Hamlet, Goodfellas legend Ray Liotta has joined the cast of the Sopranos prequel film The Many Saints Of Newark.

Liotta, who himself grew up in Newark, New Jersey, in the 1960s, around the time which The Many Saints of Newark is set, says he's absolutely buzzing to be working with Sopranos supremo David Chase, as you obviously would be.

"I am thrilled to be working with David Chase and Alan Taylor on The Many Saints of Newark," Liotta said. "David’s talent is unmatched and the directing of Alan Taylor makes this even more exciting. I respect them both immensely and look forward to making this special project with New Line."

This appearance will make Liotta the 28th member of the cast of Goodfellas to pop up in the Sopranos universe, though he very nearly ended up playing the role of Ralph Cifaretto when the show's first choice, Joe Pantoliano, looked like he was going to be too expensive. Another actor was cast and then discarded, and in the second round of the search, Liotta's name was considered closely. Eventually though, Pantoliano and the showrunners straightened things out.

Check out our interview with his co-star Alessandro Nivola to read more about The Many Saints of Newark, including young Tony Soprano's role in the upcoming story. In January it was announced that James Gandolfini's son, Michael, will play a younger version of his late father's iconic character in the series.