Stage 5 (The Sopranos) Stage 5 (The Sopranos) "Stage 5" is the 79th episode of the HBO television series "The Sopranos", the second episode of the second half of the show's sixth season, and the 14 episode of the season overall. It was written by Terence Winter and directed by Alan Taylor, and originally aired on April 15, 2007. "* = credit only" Christopher finishes Little Carmine's Mafia-oriented slasher film "Cleaver". Meadow tells her parents about her breakup with Finn but is unwilling to divulge any details. Elsewhere, there is tension between A.J. and his girlfriend Blanca. Tony is approached by FBI Agents Harris
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