James Gandolfini to Star in New Pilot for 'HBO' Just when he thought he was out, they pull him back in: HBO said on Wednesday that it had ordered the pilot episode of a new series that would star James Gandolfini in his first continuing role at that network (or anywhere else) since his heralded run on "The Sopranos," confirming a report that appeared on Deadline.com. The new series, called "Criminal Justice," is adapted from a BBC drama of the same title which, in two five-episode seasons, chronicled the lives of two different characters charged with murder; the HBO version will be written by Steven Zaillian ("Moneyball," "Schindler's List") and Richard Price ("The Wire," "Clockers") and directed by Mr. Zaillian. Mr. Gandolfini, who won three Emmy Awards for his performance as the emotionally conflicted mobster Tony Soprano on "The Sopranos," and has since produced HBO projects like "Alive Day Memories: Home from Iraq" and appeared in the network's original movie "Cinema Verite," would play "a disheveled jailhouse lawyer," Deadline.com said. HBO's "Criminal Justice" has not officially been ordered as a series, but if it is, we have some casting suggestions for Mr. Gandolfini's wife, children, therapist and coterie of professional cronies.