Cleaver is a fictional direct-to-DVD mafia-slasher film — described alternately as "Saw meets the Godfather II and "the Ring meets The Godfather" — within the mob-drama The Sopranos. The screenplay was written by J. T. Dolan based on a story by Christopher Moltisanti, directed by Morgan Yam and produced by Carmine Lupertazzi, Jr. The film starred Jonathan LaPaglia as Michael "the Cleaver" and Daniel Baldwin as mob boss Sally-boy. Also starring as Sally-boy's key advisors are George Pogatsia as Frankie and Lenny Ligotti as Nicky. Moltisanti and Lupertazzi initially attempted to recruit Ben Kingsley to fill the role of the mafia don in "Luxury Lounge (6x07)," but Kingsley turned down the part.
