Cleaver (The Sopranos) Moltisanti became disillusioned and slipped into a depression, throwing away his work. He later had an affair with studio vice-president Amy Safir in "D-Girl" (2x07); through her he met "Swingers" and "Made" scribe Jon Favreau, with whom he discussed his film concept. When they decide on the movie title Cleaver, Christopher mentions to Tony that the estate of Black Panther Party leader Eldridge Cleaver have filed a motion to put a hold on production because of the name association. This is never brought up again in the series and the title does not change. In "Kaisha" (6x12), he discussed the
Cleaver (The Sopranos) as Nicky. Initially Moltisanti and Lupertazzi attempt to cast Ben Kingsley as the Mafia boss in the episode "Luxury Lounge", but Kingsley eventually turns down the part. "Cleaver"—originally titled "Pork Store Killer"—stars protagonist Michael, nicknamed "the Butcher". When Christopher proposes the plot to writer J.T. Dolan, he says the film is about a "young wiseguy, assassin, gets betrayed by his people. They whack him, leave his body parts in dumpsters all around the city. Long story short, he is put back together, by science...or maybe it's supernatural. And he gets payback on everyone who fucked him over, including the cunt