After pounding the "proverbial pavement", for nearly twelve years, Federico was called in to audition for a new HBO series, at the time, called The Sopranos. In the first season, Federico originally auditioned for the New York Boss, Johnny Sack. In the second season and at the height of the show's popularity, Castelluccio was brought in to read for the role of Furio Giunta. He auditioned for casting directors, then for David Chase and producers and finally a screen test with James Gandolfini. After three intense and nerve wracking auditions, Federico won the role and the rest, as they say,