Stallone’s gangster saga almost unfolded in a completely different city, thanks to Taylor Sheridan’s initial vision. Imagine the swagger of Sly in, well, anywhere but Tulsa! But Sheridan, ever the creative nomad, passed the reins with a wink.
One location swap later, and Tulsa King was born—a gritty crime drama with a surprising dash of Midwestern charm.
From Kansas City King to Tulsa King: A Near Miss for Stallone’s Gangster Revival
Imagine Sylvester Stallone, a seasoned gangster yearning for a Sopranos-like role. Now picture him, not in the dimly lit streets of New Jersey, but in the wide-open plains of… Kansas City? Hold on, rewind! That was almost the reality for Tulsa King, a show born from a whirlwind brainstorming session between Taylor Sheridan and his producing partner [via Hollywood Reporter].
It all started with a casual Friday night conversation. David Glasser throws out Stallone’s gangster dream, and within 24 hours, Sheridan whips up a pilot script titled Kansas City King. Talk about fast-tracking an idea! This isn’t surprising for Sheridan, the prolific showrunner behind hits like Yellowstone. The man practically lives and breathes storytelling.
A few days later, the Kansas City King concept landed on Stallone’s desk, and the legendary actor signed on. But wait, there’s more! Emmy-winning Terence Winter (Boardwalk Empire) joined the project as showrunner, inheriting a script from Sheridan, who, as Winter puts it, “It’s your baby: I just have visitation rights.”
While Stallone craved a character with depth beyond the typical thug (think “tough, strong-arm guy” with a name like Tony or Sal), the initial concept leaned more towards a one-dimensional tough guy. Winter, too, wanted to avoid tired mafia cliches. Having only met Sheridan once, Winter saw the pilot as “a new way into familiar territory,” blending the gangster genre with a Western feel.
Enter Tulsa King. Winter found Kansas City a tad too “metropolitan and mob-like.” “It didn’t feel remote enough,” he says. Oklahoma! popped into his head, a location that screamed “middle of nowhere” to a New Yorker like himself. This seemingly random choice transformed the show’s setting and vibe.
Production wasn’t all smooth sailing, though. Stallone’s hands-on approach clashed with Sheridan’s detached style. Stallone, a seasoned writer himself, is known for reworking projects. Winter, accustomed to actors following scripts verbatim on shows like The Sopranos, found Stallone’s ad-libbing a bit jarring at first. But hey, creative sparks fly, and eventually, a happy medium was found.
With Season 2’s filming underway (Oklahoma and Atlanta this time!), one thing’s for sure: the “rivalry” between Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger (whose recent TV show The Continental adds fuel to the fire) is sure to heat up. Just like the competition for our eyeballs—will it be Stallone’s gangster reinvention in Tulsa or something else entirely? Guess we’ll have to wait and see!
The General’s Back, But Tulsa’s a Mobster Mashup: Season 2 Teaser Serves Up New Threats
![Sylvester Stallone in Tulsa King [Credit: Paramount Network]](https://fwmedia.fandomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/04132426/Sylvester-Stallone-in-Tulsa-King-Credit-Paramount-Network.jpeg)
Dwight “The General” Manfredi thought Tulsa was his oyster. Season 1’s cliffhanger had him in cuffs, but the Season 2 teaser reveals a quick prison exit. He’s back, baby, but Tulsa’s a whole new ball game.
New foes? Buckle up. Frank Grillo muscles in as Bill Bevilaqua, a Kansas City mobster eyeing Tulsa’s criminal crown. Neal McDonough joins the party as Cal Thresher, a local businessman with a major case of “Dwight’s empire encroached on my yacht money” syndrome.
Season 1’s biker gang might be toast, but Dwight’s past ain’t so easily outrun. Remember that double-crossing ex, Stacy? The legal fallout’s still a thorn in his side. And the Invernizzi family? With a new boss (hello, Chickie!), revenge is probably high on their to-do list.
