Sopranos Stars Reunite for Post-9/11 Mob Drama: Michael Imperioli and Steve Schirripa Release UnderGround Zero

Michael Imperioli and Steve Schirripa, stars of the cult gangster saga “The Sopranos,” have reunited for a new crime audio drama UnderGround Zero: 9/11 & The Mob. The scripted project is based on real historical investigations and tells the story of how New York mafia families tried to profit from emergency multi-million-dollar government contracts to clear the rubble of the World Trade Center after the September 11, 2001 attacks.

All episodes of the miniseries were released on September 1, 2026 — exactly ten days before the 25th anniversary of the tragedy.

Reunion of “The Sopranos” Cast and HBO Producers

The project marks a symbolic return to the classic aesthetic of Italian-American mafia storytelling.

According to Deadline, four key veterans of the HBO series took part in the recording:

• Michael Imperioli (Christopher Moltisanti) plays the lead role of honest NYPD lieutenant Frank Sturiano, who investigates financial fraud at the site of the tragedy;
• Steve Schirripa (Bobby “Bacala” Baccalieri) plays Joe Bianchi;
• Ray Abruzzo (Carmine Lupertazzi Jr.) voices Mickey Cronin;
• Arthur Nascarella (Carlo Gervasi) portrays crime boss “Deep” Di Pietro.

The project is produced by former HBO chief Jeff Bewkes (who greenlit the original “The Sopranos” in the late 1990s), bringing together Thoroughbred Studios, Goldhawk Productions, and media giant iHeartPodcasts.

Historical Basis: Chaos at Ground Zero and the “Five Families”

The drama’s plot is based on real corruption investigations from the early 2000s. After the Twin Towers collapsed, New York City authorities had to urgently organize the cleanup of 16 acres of rubble, dividing the area into four sectors.

The removal of hundreds of thousands of tons of construction debris and scrap metal was paid for from the federal budget under a time and materials scheme (for actual hours of equipment and labor).

According to an official U.S. Congressional investigation report, due to the state of emergency, city agencies were unable to conduct mandatory contractor checks through the VENDEX system for the first three months. As a result, lucrative government contracts went to trucking and demolition companies that had been under the control of the Gambino, Genovese, and Lucchese crime families for decades.

The press at the time cited a figure of $63.2 million that allegedly ended up in the pockets of mob structures through FEMA. During hearings, experts confirmed ties between subcontractors and organized crime (for example, the management of Peter Scalamandre & Sons pleaded guilty to laundering $1 million for the Lucchese mob), but stressed that most construction work was still completed faster and cheaper than initial forecasts.

Immersive Fictional Drama

The creators emphasize: UnderGround Zero is not a dry documentary podcast, but a full-fledged cinematic radio play with original characters, sound design, and fictional dialogue.

The script was written by Emmy nominee Steven Kronish (shows “24” and “The Kennedys”), and directed by John Scott Dryden. The series was recorded in New York with local theater actors who lived through the events of 2001.

According to Apple Podcasts, all episodes of the crime drama were released simultaneously on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify for binge-listening.