After retiring last year from the series “The Sopranos,” where he interpreted mob boss Tony Soprano, James Gandolfini will play another type of leader as the mayor of New York City, in Tony Scott’s production “The Taking of Pelham 123.”

The movie, also starring Denzel Washington and John Travolta, is based on the thriller novel by Morton Freedgood.

In the film, New York’s mayor, played by Gandolfini, is under a lot of pressure, as a group of criminals, led by John Travolta’s character, take over a subway train and threaten to kill the passengers if they are not paid. Denzel Washington plays a cop involved in stopping the hi-jackers.

Other projects blooming for Gandolfini involve Spike Jonze’s film “Where the Wild Things Are,” where the actor provides the voice for one of the Wild Things, and a drama directed by Philip Kaufman, where he will play the role of author Ernest Hemingway. The drama will also be produced by Gandolfini himself.

The actor, best known for his role as Tony Soprano in HBO’s drama, recently made a deal to return to HBO and play the role of Sonny Vaccaro, godfather of grassroots basketball, who helped many NBA stars launch their careers.

Gandolfini played a gangster role in another Scott film, “True Romance,” in 1993.

Tony Scott directed several films that were hits with audiences, such as “Spy Game” in 2001, “Man on Fire” in 2004, and “Domino” in 2006.