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Tulsa King
Tulsa King
from Wikipedia

Tulsa King
A large wooded area with a windmill in the foreground and a cityscape in the background. Text above the city reads "Tulsa King".
Tulsa King Title card
GenreCrime drama
Created byTaylor Sheridan
Showrunners
Starring
Theme music composer
  • Danny Bensi
  • Saunder Jurriaans
Opening themeTulsa King (Official Theme)
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons3
No. of episodes28
Production
Executive producers
Running time36–47 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkParamount+
ReleaseNovember 13, 2022 (2022-11-13) –
present

Tulsa King is an American crime drama television series created by Taylor Sheridan for the streaming platform Paramount+. The series stars Sylvester Stallone as Dwight "The General" Manfredi, an American Mafia caporegime who has been recently released from prison in New York and is sent to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he begins to set up a criminal organization. It is Stallone's first leading role in a scripted television series.

The series also stars Andrea Savage, Martin Starr, Jay Will, Max Casella, Domenick Lombardozzi, Vincent Piazza, A. C. Peterson, Garrett Hedlund, and Dana Delany. After receiving an early premiere in theaters on October 29, 2022, the series was released on Paramount+ from November 13, 2022, to January 8, 2023. Shortly after premiering, Tulsa King was renewed for a second season, which premiered on September 15, 2024 and concluded on November 17.

Terence Winter was the showrunner for the first season, but due to differences with Sheridan, he was demoted to head writer before the second, while director Craig Zisk produced the second season. Dave Erickson took over as showrunner for the third season. The first season was largely filmed in Oklahoma City, but primary production on the second season relocated to Atlanta after the cast and crew complained. Annabella Sciorra, Tatiana Zappardino, Frank Grillo, and Neal McDonough joined the second-season main cast. Paramount later confirmed the third season renewal by announcing the start of production. A fourth season as well as a spin-off series called NOLA King which will star Samuel L. Jackson, have both been ordered. The third season premiered on September 21, 2025.

The series has proved to be a success by providing a television ratings boost during its broadcast on Paramount Network and setting viewership records on Paramount+. Critics have given Tulsa King generally positive reviews. Many have praised Stallone's performance, but some criticized the dialogue and overall story arc. In 2023, Tulsa King was nominated for a Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Award.

Premise

[edit]

Dwight "The General" Manfredi is the American Mafia capo from New York City who has just finished serving a 25-year prison sentence. Upon release, Dwight's boss sends him to Tulsa, Oklahoma, to establish criminal operations there. Dwight, who does not know anyone in the area, seeks a new crew to help him establish his empire. He first meets taxi driver Tyson Mitchell, whom he recruits as his personal driver, and acquires financing by threatening and later befriending Lawrence "Bodhi" Geigerman, the owner of a local dispensary. While attempting to grow his enterprise, Dwight gains many more associates, including Mitch Keller, who owns a bar Dwight frequents. Dwight initially remains in contact with the syndicate in New York but later begins to despise them. Dwight and his crew become enemies with the outlaw biker gang The Black Macadams. During this time, Dwight experiences personal and family problems as a result of his actions. Stacy Beale, a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE; commonly known as ATF) agent and Dwight's love interest, investigates Dwight's actions and those of his crew.

Cast and characters

[edit]

Overview

[edit]
Actor Character Seasons
1 2 3
Sylvester Stallone Dwight Manfredi Main
Andrea Savage Stacy Beale Main Does not appear
Martin Starr Lawrence "Bodhi" Geigerman Main
Jay Will Tyson Mitchell Main
Max Casella Armand "Manny" Truisi Main Does not appear
Domenick Lombardozzi Chickie Invernizzi Main Does not appear
Vincent Piazza Vince Antonacci Main
A.C. Peterson Pete Invernizzi Main Does not appear
Garrett Hedlund Mitch Keller Main
Dana Delany Margaret Deveraux Main
Tatiana Zapperdino Tina Manfredi-Grieger Recurring Main Does not appear
Annabella Sciorra Joanne Manfredi Recurring Main
Neal McDonough Cal Thresher Does not appear Main
Frank Grillo Bill Bevilaqua Does not appear Main
Chris Caldovino Goodie Carangi Recurring Main
McKenna Quigley Harrington Grace Recurring Main
Mike "Ca$h Flo" Walden Bigfoot Does not appear Recurring Main
Beau Knapp Cole Dunmire Does not appear Main
Robert Patrick Jeremiah Dunmire Does not appear Main
Bella Heathcote Cleo Montague Does not appear Main
Kevin Pollak John Musso Does not appear Main
Samuel L. Jackson Russell Lee Washington Does not appear Main

Main

[edit]
  • Sylvester Stallone as Dwight "The General" Manfredi, a capo in the Invernizzi family who is sent to Tulsa after serving 25 years in prison, and forms his own syndicate
  • Andrea Savage (seasons 1–2) as Stacy Beale, Manfredi's love interest in season 1 and a senior ATF agent. She is transferred to Alaska as punishment for failing to secure a conviction of Dwight in season 2.
  • Martin Starr as Lawrence "Bodhi" Geigerman, a marijuana dealer who Manfredi recruits to help finance his syndicate, associate of the Manfredi family
  • Jay Will as Tyson Mitchell, Dwight's driver, associate of the Manfredi family
  • Max Casella (seasons 1–2) as Armand "Manny" Truisi, a former Invernizzi soldier who made a new life in Tulsa working at Fennario horse ranch. He joins Manfredi's crew as a soldier
  • Domenick Lombardozzi (seasons 1–2) as Don Charles "Chickie" Invernizzi, underboss and later boss of the Invernizzi family
  • Vincent Piazza as Vince Antonacci [a], Chickie's top capo, and later consigliere and boss
  • A. C. Peterson as Pete "The Rock" Invernizzi (season 1), the ailing boss of the Invernizzi family
  • Garrett Hedlund as Mitch "the Stick" Keller, ex-convict and bar owner who is an associate of the Manfredi syndicate
  • Dana Delany as Margaret Devereaux, the owner of Fennario horse ranch.
  • Tatiana Zappardino as Tina Manfredi-Grieger (season 2; recurring season 1), a Brooklyn florist and Dwight's estranged daughter
  • Annabella Sciorra as Joanne Manfredi (season 2–present; recurring season 1), Dwight's younger sister
  • Neal McDonough as Cal Thresher (season 2–present)[b], corrupt businessman
  • Frank Grillo as Bill Bevilaqua (season 2–present)[c], boss of the Bevilaqua family of Kansas City
  • Chris Caldovino as Dennis "Goodie" Carangi (season 3; recurring seasons 1–2), long-time capo and consigliere of the Invernizzi family who joins Manfredi in Tulsa
  • McKenna Quigley Harrington as Grace (season 3; recurring seasons 1–2), associate of the Manfredi family
  • Mike "Ca$h Flo" Walden as Michael "Bigfoot" (season 3; recurring season 2), associate, enforcer and bodyguard of Manfredi family
  • Beau Knapp as Cole Dunmire (season 3), Jeremiah's son and Mitch's rival
  • Robert Patrick as Jeremiah Dunmire (season 3), the so-called "tyrant of Tulsa", the leader of the Dixie Mafia
  • Bella Heathcote as Cleo Montague (season 3)[d], the rebellious daughter of Theodore Montague and Mitch's old flame
  • Kevin Pollak as John Musso (season 3)[e], the special agent in charge of handling Dwight as an asset following his detainment
  • Samuel L. Jackson as Russell Lee Washington (season 3)[f], a crafty veteran hitman from New Orleans, who served time with Dwight

Recurring

[edit]
  • Miles Mussenden as Hendricks, the Assistant Special Agent in Charge or ASAC of the ATF Tulsa Bureau office
  • Steve Witting as Donnie Shore, a car dealership owner
  • Dashiell Connery as Clint, associate of Manfredi family
  • Justin Garcia-Pruneda as Fred, associate of Manfredi family
  • Michael Beach as Mark Mitchell, Tyson's father
  • Emily Davis as Rochelle "Roxy" Harrington (season 1), Manny's co-worker and an informant for Stacy
  • Glen Gould as Jimmy "the Creek" (seasons 1–2), associate of Manfredi family, marijuana producer and distributor
  • Juliette Jeffers as Angie Mitchell, Tyson's mother
  • Scarlet Rose Stallone as Spencer, a former caretaker at Margaret's ranch employed as a bartender by Dwight
  • Loren Dunn as Emory (season 1), Tina's husband
  • Ritchie Coster as Caolan Waltrip (season 1), the Irish boss of the outlaw biker gang Black Macadams MC
  • Robert Walker Branchaud as Carson Pike (season 1), member of the Black Macadams gang
  • Stephanie Kurtzuba as Clara, Armand's wife
  • Joseph Riccobene as Jerry Izzo (seasons 1–2) capo in the Invernizzi family
  • Guy Nardulli as Johnny the Zip, capo for the Invernizzi family
  • Ron Castellano as Nicky D, capo for the Invernizzi family
  • Rich Ting as Jackie Ming (season 2), a Chinese triad gangster
  • Stephen Shelton as Cowboy Art (season 2-present), one of Bevilaqua's top enforcers, who gets into conflict with Bodhi
  • James Russo as "Quiet" Ray Renzetti (season 3), an Italian mob boss
  • Dallas Roberts as Dexter Deacon (season 3), a hitman specializing in explosives
  • Tim Guinee as Sackrider (season 3), the attorney general of Tulsa, who is in Dunmire's pocket

Notable guests

[edit]
  • Barry Corbin as Babe Keller (seasons 1, 3), Mitch's elderly dad
  • Alan Autry as Brian Gillen (season 1), former owner of Fennario Ranch and Margaret Devereaux's ex-husband
  • Jonathan Joss as "Bad Face", associate of Manfredi family
  • Josh Fadem as Elliot Evans (season 1)
  • Jelly Roll as himself (season 2)
  • Graham Greene as Old Smoke (season 2), the Native American chieftain
  • Brett Rice as Theordore Montague (season 3), the owner of a large distillery and Cleo's father
  • Jayson Warner Smith as Walden Eustice (season 3), a licensed liquor distributor
  • Frank Roberts as Jonny Wednesday (season 3), an old contact of Dwight's in Shreveport
  • Mary Ann Hermansen as Anna Sackrider (season 3), the attorney general's wife and Margaret's friend

Episodes

[edit]
SeasonEpisodesOriginally released
First releasedLast released
19November 13, 2022 (2022-11-13)January 8, 2023 (2023-01-08)
210September 15, 2024 (2024-09-15)November 17, 2024 (2024-11-17)
310[1]September 21, 2025 (2025-09-21)November 23, 2025 (2025-11-23)[1]

Season 1 (2022–2023)

[edit]
No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date [1]
11"Go West, Old Man"Allen CoulterTeleplay by : Taylor Sheridan and Terence Winter
Story by : Taylor Sheridan
November 13, 2022 (2022-11-13)[g]
Dwight Manfredi is released from prison 25 years after a murder on behalf of the New York Invernizzi crime family. Despite refusing to testify against boss Pete "The Rock", Invernizzi and his son Don Charles "Chickie", Dwight gets sent to Tulsa because the family has no prospects for him in New York. Dwight is furious and punches one of Chickie's men, Vince, in the jaw. Arriving in Tulsa Airport, Dwight adjusts to life and gets into a taxi driven by Tyson Mitchell. Upon learning that marijuana is illegally sold at a local dispensary, Dwight extorts the owner, Lawrence "Bodhi" Geigerman, for "protection" after throwing a bottle at Fred and threatening Bodhi to break his foot. Dwight walks out with forty thousand dollars of Bodhi's money; he then hires Tyson as his personal driver and gives him $50,000 to purchase a new Lincoln Navigator for him. Dwight tells Bodhi needs to launder his cannabis money. As Dwight makes new companions in Tulsa, such as Mitch, and establishes his base of operations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) learns of his presence and issues a bulletin to all federal agents in Tulsa, including Stacy Beale, an ATF agent who had an anonymous one-night stand with Dwight.
22"Center of the Universe"Allen CoulterTerence Winter & Joseph RiccobeneNovember 20, 2022 (2022-11-20)
Dwight tries to find out information about his daughter, Christina, but he needs the card details for it. Tyson persuades Dwight to get a new drivers' license so he can obtain a debit card for expenses. Stacy finds information on Dwight from her colleague. Dwight then visits Bodhi and insists on meeting with his supplier Jimmy. After educating himself on the intricacies of legalised marijuana, Dwight cuts a more favourable deal for better product with Jimmy. Tyson's father Mark grows concerned Tyson is throwing away any chance of a future by associating with Dwight. Chickie agrees to Vince's request for a large cash gift from Dwight to end their disagreement. Stacy visits Dwight to reveal her employer; Dwight insists she has nothing to fear from him. A ranch hand named Armand discovers Dwight's presence and begins planning to take action against him. Dwight uses his debit card to pay for information about his estranged daughter Tina; he tries to call her, but she refuses to talk to Dwight after he estranged her 18 years earlier.
33"Caprice"Ben RichardsonRegina CorradoNovember 27, 2022 (2022-11-27)
Stacy is assigned to investigate The Black Macadams, a local biker gang, after a member dies by suicide in his house using explosives. Armand tries to shoot Dwight during Dwight's driving test; Dwight survives but the experience persuades him to end his relationship with Tyson. Tyson, who is infatuated with his new gangster lifestyle, rebuffs Dwight and insists on working as his right-hand man. Dwight involves Bodhi and Mitch in a scheme to sell nitrous oxide as a party drug during an upcoming Tulsa music festival; Dwight persuades Mitch to use his bar as a front to obtain supplies of the gas without suspicion. Stacy reconnects with Dwight after they share dinner, and they have sex together. Dwight conducts his own investigation, using his contacts to identify Armand as the shooter. He buys a gun, but while preparing to kill Armand at his home, Dwight hesitates after seeing Armand's young son run out to hug him.
44"Visitation Place"Ben SemanoffDave FlebotteDecember 4, 2022 (2022-12-04)
Dwight waits until Armand is alone and then questions him. Armand reveals that the Invernizzi family tried to have Dwight killed during his prison sentence, and Armand feared that Dwight had now come to Tulsa to kill him. Dwight spares him and instead demands a monthly cut of Armand's income. Dwight's plan to sell nitrous oxide hits a setback when Black Macadam bikers, who are selling drugs at the same festival, assault Dwight's crew and steal the gas tanks. To resolve the problem, Dwight and his men, accompanied by Mark, surprise the bikers as they are packing up for the night, assault them with baseball bats, and take back the gas tanks and their stolen money. Tyson and his father reconcile, but Tyson finds himself divided between his family and his loyalty to Dwight. Armand assaults a rude neighbor and decides not to move out of Tulsa. Stacy has sex with a handsome stranger who buys her a drink. Dwight, with the help of his sister Joanne, says goodbye to his dying younger brother Joey.
55"Token Joe"Ben SemanoffJoseph RiccobeneDecember 11, 2022 (2022-12-11)
Dwight flies to Brooklyn to attend Joey's funeral; while there, he takes the opportunity to speak with Tina. Tina still refuses to forgive her father, and says during his time in prison, she was raped by Nico, one of Chickie's men, despite Pete swearing to protect her when Dwight was convicted. An enraged Dwight beats Nico to death in front of Chickie and Vince. Caolan Waltrip, Black Macadam's sergeant-at-arms, has corrupt state police officers on his payroll arrest Tyson and confiscate his phone. After Tyson is coerced into unlocking his phone, the bikers learn about Dwight's connection to Bodhi and force him to reveal Mitch is fronting his drug racket. When the officers attempt to intimidate Mitch, Mitch compels them to release Bodhi and leave by saying his bar is on Cherokee tribal land and they have no jurisdiction. Armand's colleague Roxy warns Armand to stop encroaching on Waltrip's turf.
66"Stable"Guy FerlandDave FlebotteDecember 18, 2022 (2022-12-18)
Dwight again meets with his daughter before flying back to Tulsa. On his return, he finds Tyson has been arrested and that Bodhi is missing. Waltrip meets with Dwight and demands a cut of his business, but Dwight refuses. Stacy warns Dwight about his activities and that the FBI is getting involved. The Invernizzi family, mainly Chickie, are split on how to handle Dwight. Pete insists on having his consigliere visit Tulsa to calm the situation, instead Chickie assaults Tina's husband Emory. Federal agents shut Bodhi's shop, but Bodhi refuses to betray Dwight. After learning Pilot, the white horse he has grown fond of will be euthanized, Dwight buys Pilot and hires ex-waitress Spencer to take care of him. Waltrip has Roxy's boyfriend Carson Pike shoot up Mitch's bar; Dwight and Mitch return fire and Pike is killed. Mitch agrees to accept Dwight as a business partner.
77"Warr Acres"Guy FerlandTerence Winter & Joseph RiccobeneDecember 25, 2022 (2022-12-25)
Dwight and Mitch send Pike's bullet-hole-ridden jacket to The Black Macadams. In New York, Pete is recovering and is back at home with Chickie, who does not seem happy. Roxy calls Stacy about Pike and agrees to meet Stacy to talk about the incident. Roxy is revealed to be an informant for the ATF. Pete becomes angry when he hears Dwight gave his ring to Tyson and that Tina is still getting mysterious calls. Waltrip captures Roxy, discovers her secret and strangles her. Pete ignores Chickie while Chickie is bathing him; in a fit of rage, Chickie drowns Pete and becomes the new boss of the family. Dwight is distressed by the news of Pete's death.
88"Adobe Walls"Lodge KerriganTerence Winter & Tom SierchioJanuary 1, 2023 (2023-01-01)
With the increasing threat of The Black Macadams, Dwight and Mitch train their inexperienced men to shoot. Stacy visits Waltrip but fails to implicate him in Roxy's murder. Jimmy agrees to become a business partner with Dwight and Mitch to open a new casino. Chickie decides to kill Dwight and his family, calls him to pretend to make amends, and says they will visit him very soon. When Stacy again meets Dwight, Waltrip and a henchman shoot at them, wounding Stacy. Police arrive and Dwight is detained for questioning.
99"Happy Trails"Lodge KerriganTerence WinterJanuary 8, 2023 (2023-01-08)
In a flashback from 1997, Chickie, Vince and Armand are torturing Ripple, a member of their family; they handcuff him to a radiator in a run-down building and brand his face with a red-hot potato masher. The potato masher falls on a pile of rags, and the whole room is engulfed in flames. Dwight arrives and shoots Ripple to prevent him from dying in the fire, and is arrested outside the burning building (which explains his prison sentence). In the present, as amends, Dwight gives Stacy a flash drive that accesses a million-dollar bank account. Chickie, Vince and Goodie go to Tulsa, where Dwight surprises them and demands they leave, with the exception of Goodie, who joins Dwight's crew. Bodhi hacks into Waltrip's computer and empties his bank accounts. The Black Macadams invade the Bred 2 Buck; the two gangs fight, but the Manfredi crew prevails, and Dwight kills Waltrip. Three months later, the casino is open, Dwight reconciles with Tina and Stacy is reinstated to the ATF. Outside the casino, Stacy has Dwight arrested for bribery, with the flash drive as evidence.

Season 2 (2024)

[edit]
No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date [3]
101"Back in the Saddle"Craig ZiskTaylor Elmore and Terence Winter & Sylvester StalloneSeptember 15, 2024 (2024-09-15)
In jail, Dwight meets Harlan, who has been incarcerated for an energy scam in which he gambled away $12.5 million grant money for a wind farm he owns. The next day, in the courthouse Dwight negotiates a bail for himself, with Tina paying $300,000 for his bail. At the casino, Mitch introduces Dwight to his cousin, Bigfoot, whom Dwight hires as his bodyguard. Dwight also tells the group about Harlan's wind farm scam, and decides to invest in it to power up a new weed farm, to which everyone agrees. While visiting the ranch, Margaret tells Dwight about a charity function organized by Cal Thresher, the biggest medical marijuana supplier in Tulsa, and invites Dwight to meet him. Dwight then visits Stacy at her home and says that he does not hold grudges over how she had him arrested. The next day, Dwight and the gang attend the function. Dwight meets with Thresher, who shows Dwight disdain for encroaching into his business. Furious, Dwight decides to leave the function. Cal then calls upon Bill Bevilaqua, boss of the Kansas City mob and inquires about Dwight, also mentioning that Dwight has now officially stepped into Bevilaqua's territory of Tulsa.
112"Kansas City Blues"Craig ZiskStephen Scaia and Terence WinterSeptember 22, 2024 (2024-09-22)
Dwight and his daughter Tina go house hunting as she plans to move to Tulsa with her family to be closer to him. Meanwhile, Cal secretly contacts District Attorney Dylan McGrath, aiming to sabotage Dwight's chances of acquittal. At a court session to schedule the trial, Dwight chooses to represent himself, while Dylan leads the prosecution. Bevilaqua falsely frames Dwight's expansion into Tulsa as an act of war, unaware that Chickie and Dwight have already parted ways. Armand confides in Tyson about his financial struggles, and the two, along with the crew, pull off a successful heist stealing catalytic converters from Donnie's dealership. Dwight visits Harlan in prison to negotiate the purchase of his farms for $7.5 million, but a bank denies Dwight a loan. Joanne visits him and announces she's moving to Tulsa, urging him to consider a plea deal for Tina's sake. While at Dylan's office, Dwight discovers evidence of Dylan and Cal's collusion, raising doubts about Dylan's true motives. At the dispensary's successful grand opening, Dwight is forced to hide at Tyson's house due to media attention. The next day, he learns that Cal, Bevilaqua, and now the Chinese Triads are threats. Meanwhile, Chickie tries to recruit Goodie to betray Dwight in exchange for power.
123"Oklahoma v. Manfredi"Joshua MarstonTerence Winter & Joseph RiccobeneSeptember 29, 2024 (2024-09-29)
As Dwight prepares for his trial, Armand struggles with his divorce and meets Cal, who gives him tens of thousands of dollars in exchange for information on Dwight's operations. Meanwhile, Tina and Joanne move into a new home while dealing with the strict head of the local Homeowners Association. Goodie faces pressure from Chickie and Bevilaqua to betray Dwight. At trial, Dwight defends himself against charges of bribing a federal agent. He calls Stacy to the stand and cleverly uses their past relationship to argue that the $1 million flash drive was a thank-you gift, not a bribe. Bevilaqua demands compensation from Dwight for operating in Tulsa. Dwight firmly refuses, declaring that he answers to no one and owns Tulsa. The jury finds Dwight not guilty. Later, Chickie orders Goodie to lure Dwight out of the casino, where Carl, Bevilaqua's enforcer, plans to ambush him. During Dwight's celebration party, Goodie informs him that Carl wants to meet. Outside, Carl attempts to draw a gun, but Bigfoot grabs him, allowing Goodie to stab him to death. Dwight, fully aware of the setup, has Bigfoot and Goodie dispose of the body. That night, Dwight shares a dance and romantic moment with Margaret. Bevilaqua discovers Carl's corpse at his doorstep, igniting a war.
134"Heroes and Villains"Joshua MarstonTerence Winter & Dave FlebotteOctober 6, 2024 (2024-10-06)
145"Tilting at Windmills"David SemelWilliam SchmidtOctober 13, 2024 (2024-10-13)
156"Navigator"David SemelTerence WinterOctober 20, 2024 (2024-10-20)
167"Life Support"Kevin DowlingDave FlebotteOctober 27, 2024 (2024-10-27)
178"Under New Management"Kevin DowlingWilliam Schmidt & Terence WinterNovember 3, 2024 (2024-11-03)
189"Triad"Craig ZiskJoseph RiccobeneNovember 10, 2024 (2024-11-10)
After Jimmy's death, the Native American tribe holds a funeral, with Old Smoke delivering a eulogy. MedHat and his son gift Dwight a tomahawk from Jimmy's mother, pledging support in the brewing conflict. On the ride home, Bodhi asks Dwight about taking out Bevilaqua, but Dwight brushes it off. Goodie later reveals Armand stole £500,000 from Dwight, prompting plans to eliminate Bevilaqua. Meanwhile, Chickie is told to negotiate Dwight's return to New York but is blocked from flying. Bevilaqua urges his crew to lie low and plans to handle Thresher. Thresher confronts Bevilaqua for siding with Ming, then warns Margaret that Ming now controls his business and that Ming is a threat to her. Margaret urges Dwight to mediate. She reveals she sold 49% of her ranch to Thresher, and this is Ming who is behind the recent attack against Tyson's father, not Bevilaqua. Dwight agrees to a sit-down. At the meeting, Thresher blames Ming for the assassination attempt. Armand, secretly working with Dwight, tips off Ming about Dwight's location. At Margaret's ranch, Dwight's allies, including the tribe and Bevilaqua's men, ambush and kill Ming's men and injure Ming. Bigfoot and Mitch capture Ming, and Tyson kills him in revenge. In a flashback, Armand returns Dwight's money and agrees to lure Ming. Dwight informs Margaret that her ranch is safe and his mission is complete.
1910"Reconstruction"Craig ZiskTerence Winter & Sylvester StalloneNovember 17, 2024 (2024-11-17)
Dwight, Bodhi, Tyson, and Bigfoot confront Thresher at his vast 18,200-acre weed farm. Dwight reminds Thresher that he saved his life and killed Ming, then threatens him. Thresher insults Bigfoot, earning Dwight's reluctant respect. Dwight announces he's taking over the farm and advises Thresher to return to his oil empire. Thresher agrees and leaves peacefully. Meanwhile, Mitch buys Donnie's car business. Donnie jokes about using his money to start a rival dealership. Vince informs Dwight that Chickie is out and that he now leads the Invernizzi family. Dwight confirms this to Goodie. Bevilaqua seeks a partnership for taking out Ming's crew, but Dwight offers only 25% due to Jimmy's murder, angering Bevilaqua. Chickie visits Dwight's weed store and tries to convince him to return to New York, but Dwight refuses, insisting Tulsa is his home. Armand apologises to Margaret, who forgives him. Later, Chickie plots with Bill to kill Dwight, but Bill urges him to rebuild family trust. At a final meeting, Chickie proposes expansion. When he interrupts Bill, Bill shoots Chickie in the head, killing him and demands 50%, which Dwight grants. The FBI begins investigating Dwight. Mitch's car ad is a hit, and Dwight enjoys a rare moment of peace — until masked gunmen raid Margaret's home and abduct him.

Season 3 (2025)

[edit]
No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten by [4]Original release date [5]
201"Blood and Bourbon"Jim McKayDave Erickson and Sylvester StalloneSeptember 21, 2025 (2025-09-21)
Dwight is revealed to have been abducted by Agent Musso of the FBI, who reveals that Ripple, the man killed by Dwight for which Dwight was imprisoned, was an informant. Musso claims to have evidence that could lead to the arrest of everyone in the Tulsa operation but instead tells Dwight that he is free to go as long as Dwight now answers to himself. Dwight later visits New York for a sit down with Ray Renzetti, a senior mafioso, who offers him a senior New York role which Dwight declines, but who then threatens Dwight for refusing to cut him in on Dwight's Tulsa operation. Dwight attempts to separate himself from Margaret anticipating that she will otherwise be compromised by Musso. Mitch runs into Cleo Montague at the car dealership, who tells him that her father's distillery business is under threat from a rival, Jeremiah Dunmire, and wants to sell: Dwight decides he's interested, but at a subsequent meeting with Theodore Montague his initial offer is refused, with Theodore citing a prior commitment with Dunmire. Bodhi, Grace and Tyson are sent to make a cash drop to Bevilaqua's crew, using Bodhi's electric car which requires a change of location due to range limits. At the meet, the bag turns out to contain Bodhi's books instead of cash, so Bodhi and one of the crew return for the cash, who Bodhi subsequently threatens at gunpoint because he was Jimmy's killer. Cole Dunmire, Jeremiah's son, reveals to him that Theodore Montague has decided to accept Dwight's offer. Later the same night, Dunmire's crew kills Theodore and burns his house down.
212"The Fifty"Jim McKaySheri ElwoodSeptember 28, 2025 (2025-09-28)
Dwight and Margaret meet the Dunmires at Theodore's funeral where there is a confrontation. Jeremiah offers Dwight three times what what he paid Montague which Dwight refuses; Cleo later confirms that this is because of a secret stash of 50 year old bourbon worth $150million. Tyson agrees to ask his father, Mark, to assist with restoring the distillery's bottling system, who refuses, but Tyson's mother disagrees and persuades him to accept. Dwight, Bigfoot and Mitch visit Walden Eustice, a distributor previously threatened into dropping the Montague brand by Dunmire, who reluctantly agrees to cooperate. Cole Dunmire meets Cleo and attempts to reconcile with her and then threatens her when she rejects him; Bevilaqua meets Dwight at the distillery and angrily demands a slice of the operation; Mark starts work at the distillery; Bodhi discusses with Grace his plan to cyber-spy on Jimmy's killer. Cole tells his father that Dwight had met with Eustice; Jeremiah's crew beats Eustice at his premises. Mark succeeds in getting the bottling operation running and Dwight's crew toast the release of the Montague 50; he later explains to Tyson he only accepted the job at his mother's insistence. Dwight meets with Thresher, who is running for governor, and reminds him that Thresher owes him a favour. Mitch is later attacked by Cole and his goons but fights them off with Cleo's help. Jeremiah threatens Dwight and vows to destroy him; Dwight returns the threat.
223"The G and the OG"Kevin DowlingJameel SaleemOctober 5, 2025 (2025-10-05)
Musso calls Dwight and orders him to go to an address for a pickup; it turns out to be a driverless car which takes an angered Dwight to meet Musso elsewhere. The plan is to use Dwight for a sting to entrap a suspected terrorist in Texas, Dexter Deacon. They are stopped for speeding by a local cop where Dwight talks him out of a ticket after Musso's FBI badge fails to impress. Dwight meets Dexter at Dexter's shop where he reveals his own identity and states an intention to engage in business at a later date. Clara, Armand's wife, confronts Joanne and Bigfoot at the distillery saying that Armand is missing, to which Joanne denies knowledge. Cleo and Mitch take a road trip where Cleo unexpectedly detours to the Dunmire house and vandalises the lawn by driving over it. They are intercepted by Dunmire's men but manage to leave unharmed. Bodhi, Tyson and Grace decide to stakeout Cole at his gym and follow him when he leaves, ending up at a bingo hall where Cole is running a crooked game. Dennis joins them and they spot the mark, share his table and win the next round, which leads to a brief confrontation with Cole who initially refuses to pay but then realises he cannot. They later visit a strip bar where they spend their winnings; Tyson is alone in a private room with one of the girls, Serenity, when Cole appears with a gun; they are both kidnapped where Cole reveals that he wants to know where the 50yo bourbon is. Tyson initially refuses and is beaten but then reveals the location when they threaten to shoot the girl.
234"Staring Down the Barrel"Kevin DowlingTaylor StreitzOctober 12, 2025 (2025-10-12)

Dwight meets the team and develops next steps for dealing with Cole's theft of the 50; Tyson knows he has to be the one to fix it. Bevilaqua arrives, to the news that the 50 has been stolen; he ends up killing their first lead, the truck driver who helped move the stolen goods, without getting any further information.

Margaret and Thresher meet; Margaret assesses his political prospects negatively but agrees to help him win the governor election if he agrees to sell his share of her ranch back at a steep discount.

Bodhi and Grace develop an online marketing strategy based on an AI-generated fake person; Musso tries to deter Dwight from a war with Dunmire.

Tyson and Mark discover that Serenity is part of the theft conspiracy, which Tyson relates to Dwight, before they follow her to Cole's hiding place for the stolen 50, where Dwight and the crew meets them. They take Cole hostage and propose a swap, which Dunmire eventually accepts, and Dwight's crew drives away with the recovered stolen bourbon.

Bevilaqua receives a call from Ray Renzetti, the New York boss who now has been tipped off about Dwight's bourbon operation in Tulsa, offering him assistance in the event of any unspecified future difficulties.
245"On the Rocks"Joe ChappelleIldy Modrovich and Sylvester StalloneOctober 19, 2025 (2025-10-19)

Dunmire meets privately with the attorney general and organises secret interference on Dwight and Bevilaqua's operations. Dexter Deacon calls Dwight insisting on a meeting the same day, at the Bred2Buck: Dwight initially refuses but Musso insists the meet goes ahead. In the conversation Dwight names Dunmire's house as a bomb target, for which Deacon demands $250k for making it, half in advance, which Dwight pays in cash.

Bodhi and Grace's plan has attracted many critics and industry insiders to the opening night of the distillery where the Montague 50 is showcased, including Margaret and Thresher, who are using it as part of his election strategy. Leery, a safety inspector, arrives at the event, clearly as a result of Dunmire's actions. During the inspection in which Leery reveals an intention to shut down the operation, Bigfoot dislodges a barrel which kills Leery. Goodie, Bigfoot and Mitch agree to conceal the evidence.

Failing the inspector shutting down the event, Dunmire and his crew interrupt the proceedings with police assistance, accusing Dwight of theft, destroying one of the barrels and causing the crowd to disperse, ruining the launch party and creating a PR disaster.

Bevilaqua visits Dwight at home, reveals he is aware of Dwight's meeting with Dexter (whose identity he does not know), and questions Dwight's loyalty. He is later arrested by an armed response unit.
256"Bubbles"Joe ChappelleJoseph RiccobeneOctober 26, 2025 (2025-10-26)

Dwight and Joanne discuss Bevilaqua's concerns: Dwight admits that he is working for Musso and the FBI to help entrap Dexter Deacon, and that if he refuses to comply Musso has evidence that will result in the arrests of the entire crew, including Joanne herself.

Leery's body is removed by the police from the distillery premises after Bodhi was persuaded to report it as an accident. The distillery is shut down pending an official investigation, but it's clear that Dunmire orchestrated this. Dwight explains to the crew that they will move the bourbon through private channels for the time being.

Goodie tells Dwight that Bevilaqua is missing, developing his own concerns.

The crew break back into the closed distillery and take the first of the crates of the bourbon for private sale.

On a trip to Arkansas to meet Ray Renzetti, Dwight, Tyson and Bigfoot confront Cole's men at a gas station but Bigfoot defeats them. Cole reveals to his father that Dwight's crew are moving the bourbon under the radar. Cleo and Mitch are stopped by a corrupt cop while on a road trip at Dunmire's instigation: they overpower him and escape after he attempts to arrest them for transporting the bourbon as contraband.

The meet with Ray Renzetti become tense after Ray demands 80% of the bourbon operation, while Dwight mistakenly believes Renzetti is behind Bevilaqua's disappearance. Cole and his men then ambush the meeting with a shootout but miss due to Bigfoot spotting them in time, though Renzetti believes it was an attempted hit upon himself.

Goodie calls Dwight from the Bred2Buck with the news that Armand has committed suicide.
267"Art of War"Guy FerlandDaniel C. ConnollyNovember 2, 2025 (2025-11-02)

Dwight explains to Renzetti that the hit was meant for himself and offers to cut him in at a reasonable take in exchange for Renzetti's help opening up new avenues of business in the north east.

Dwight meets with AG Sackrider, the Attorney General where they discuss his loyalty to Dunmire, and Dwight requests the restoration of Joanne's liquor license. Dwight later discusses this with Margaret who meets up with Anna, Sackrider's wife, for lunch to gain insight into Sackrider's personal life. They meet with Thresher and persuade him that he should seek Sackrider's support for his political campaign.

Goodie, Tyson and Spence plan and carry out a drug theft from a frat house, posing as police.

Thresher and Sackrider meet at the Bred2Buck, monitored by Dwight's team on CCTV. Sackrider initially refuses Thresher's invitation to endorse his political campaign but accepts some complimentary gaming chips from the house. Dunmire meets Dwight outside and threatens him for having visited Sackrider. Inside, Sackrider is demonstrating a liking for gambling: Grace switches the dice to make sure he ends up in debt to the house and offers him a $100k line of credit, which he accepts and then loses. Thresher realises that he was merely being played by Dwight and Margaret, to entice Sackrider to the Bred2Buck's gambling operation.

Dwight waives Sackrider's $100k debt in return for which Joanne's licence is restored. Dunmire storms into Sackrider's office and assaults him, for which Dunmire is arrested.
278"Nothing Is Over"Guy FerlandNick Jones Jr. & Sylvester StalloneNovember 9, 2025 (2025-11-09)

The distillery opens again following Sackrider's licence decision; Dunmire is released on bail; Deacon completes the bomb for Dwight but then meets Dunmire and informs on Dwight's plan; he states he intends instead to kill Dwight, having had suspicions from the start about him.

Deacon attempts to set a meet with Dwight who refuses and insists on deciding the time and place. Dwight and Musso meet beforehand where Dwight demands Bevilaqua be released, which Musso refuses. Deacon attempts to betray Dwight at the agreed meeting but is captured by Dwight, Bigfoot and Mitch, and tortured.

Tyson and Spence need Bodhi's help to put on an event to sell the confiscated drugs; he agrees for a cut. At the event Cole turns up and reveals to Spence of Deacon's intention to betray Dwight. Tyson and Spence realise that they are all a target and upon informing Dwight, he realises that the bomb is at the Grand Hotel where Thresher's campaign launch event is being held. They hide Deacon's body in the Montague crypt, alert Musso and together they manage to evacuate the hotel just before the explosion.
289"Dead Weight"Jim McKayStory by : Dave Erickson & Daniel C. Connolly & Ildy Modrovich
Teleplay by : Daniel C. Connolly & Ildy Modrovich
November 16, 2025 (2025-11-16)

Russell Washington is seen carrying out a hit at a hotel in New Jersey, before then meeting with Ray Renzetti, who persuades him to assassinate Dwight, against Russell's objections. He later visits the Bred2Buck where he meets Dwight and informs him that Renzetti paid him to kill Dwight. Later, Ray calls Russell to see what's happening; Russell tells him he won't carry out the hit. Russell later meets Dwight at home, who informs him he knows that Ray now has hits planned for both of them. They later discover the motel where the assassins are staying and kill them.

Tyson asks Bodhi for help securing a reliable supply of ecstasy, who agrees to manufacture it himself rather than help find a third-party supplier. Spence and Tyson are later caught selling pills by security in the club.

Dwight offers to hand over to Musso all the intel extracted from Deacon in exchange for a federal liquor licence. This coincides with Dunmire losing a series of distribution deals. Dunmire responds by having one of his men kidnap Joanne.
2910"Out of Adventure"TBADave Erickson & Sylvester StalloneNovember 23, 2025 (2025-11-23)

Production

[edit]

Development

[edit]
Terrence Winter
Terence Winter, the showrunner, was fired and later re-hired by creator Taylor Sheridan ahead of the second season. He left of his own accord before season three, but eventually returned for season four.

On December 6, 2021, it was reported Taylor Sheridan and Terence Winter were developing a series titled Kansas City for the digital streaming platform Paramount+.[6] The series was created by Sheridan, who had signed a multi-year contract with ViacomCBS to create new series during the COVID-19 pandemic.[7] The series would be centered around Sal, an Italian-American mobster from New York City who is tasked with returning the mafia to Kansas City, Missouri.[8] Sheridan, Winter and series-star Sylvester Stallone were announced as executive producers alongside Braden Aftergood from Stallone's banner Balboa Productions which was served as co-producer for the series along with Sheridan's company Bosque Ranch Productions; and David C. Glasser, Ron Burkle and Bob Yari from the production company 101 Studios who would also be serveed as co-producer.[9] Winter was also the series' showrunner, as MTV Entertainment Studios will be producing the upcoming television series as producer.[10]

Sheridan wrote the pilot episode in a week.[11] Winter moved the show's setting to Tulsa, Oklahoma, to give the characters a more-remote setting.[12] In 2022, Deadline Hollywood stated the show was given a straight-to-series order under the title Tulsa King to reflect the change in location.[13] Stallone involved himself in several aspects of the production. Winter noted: "With Stallone, you're getting a writer, a director, a producer, an editor"; and Glasser said Stallone was "heavily involved in the editing process".[14]

On November 30, 2022, Tulsa King was renewed for a second season.[15] The following February, it was announced Winter had resigned as showrunner due to "creative differences"; a new showrunner was sought but Winter would remain as an executive producer of the show.[16] It was later revealed Sheridan had dismissed Winter because of differences in writing style; Sheridan stated he preferred character-driven plots whereas Winter preferred plot-driven characters.[17] In February 2024, Winter was re-hired as a writer after an opening in his schedule due to delays caused by the 2023 Writers' Guild of America strike.[18] In his modified position, Winter is the series' head writer and works outside Sheridan's direct supervision.[19][20][21] Sheridan chose not to use a conventional showrunner for the second season and instead decided to hire a director and executive producer to oversee day-to-day production.[22] It was announced Craig Zisk would fill this role.[23]

In November 2024, it announced that Tulsa King was on track to secure a third and fourth season renewal.[24] Winter once again resigned from the series in order to work on the untitled Sammy the Bull series for FX.[25] A third season was officially confirmed in March 2025. At this time, it was reported that Dave Erickson would fill the position of a traditional showrunner, with Zisk's status unknown.[26] Ahead of the season three premiere, it was reported that a fourth season had been ordered. Erickson will depart the show due to obligations on another Sheridan series, Mayor of Kingstown, and Winter is set to once again join the program, returning in a head writer and executive producer capacity.[27] By August 2025, during the production of the third season, Paramount Television Studios had taken over production of the series following the merger of MTV Entertainment Studios' parent company Paramount Global with Skydance Media into Paramount Skydance.[28]

Casting

[edit]
Sylvester Stallone
Sylvester Stallone stars in the series lead role as Dwight "The General" Manfredi.

At the time the series was announced, Sylvester Stallone was participating in negotiations to star as Tulsa King's lead character Sal in his scripted television debut.[9] Stallone's character was later renamed Dwight "The General" Manfredi.[29] Stallone stated filming television was more difficult and time-consuming than the films in which he had starred.[30] On March 24, 2022, Max Casella, Domenick Lombardozzi, Vincent Piazza and Jay Will were added to the cast; Casella, Lombardozzi and Piazza portray members of the Invernizzi family crime syndicate while Will stars as a recent college graduate who becomes a member of Dwight's crew.[29] In May, A. C. Peterson, Andrea Savage, Garrett Hedlund and Martin Starr were reported to be starring in the series;[31][32][33][34] they were followed in July by Dana Delany[35] and Annabella Sciorra in August.[36] Miles Mussenden also stars in the series.[37] Stallone's daughter Scarlet appears in the series as Spencer, a barista and stable hand who is recruited to work with Dwight.[38][39] Scarlet was originally considered for the role of Stallone's on-screen daughter but was considered too young for the role,[38] which instead went to Tatiana Zappardino.[40] Additional casting for minor characters and background actors occurred in May 2022.[41]

Before production of the second season, Sciorra and Zappardino were promoted to the main cast.[42] Frank Grillo also joined the main cast, starring as Bill Bevilaqua, a mobster from Kansas City.[43] On May 1, 2024, it was reported Neal McDonough would appear as Cal Thresher.[44] Two days later, Rich Ting was cast in the recurring role of Jackie Ming.[45] Jelly Roll, an American singer, songwriter, and rapper, made a cameo appearance as himself. He said he had been a fan of the series and is friends with Sistine, another daughter of Stallone's, who made the necessary connections.[46] Casting for additional extras in the second season occurred in June 2024.[47]

During filming for the second season, Stallone and an unnamed director were accused of making disparaging remarks about background extras.[48][49] Stallone was allegedly heard calling certain background actors "ugly", "tub of lard" and "fat guy with a cane".[50] Stallone also suggested the production should instead cast "pretty young girls to be around me".[51] The Atlanta-based casting agency Rose Locke & CL Casting, which had been responsible for hiring extras, resigned from the production soon after.[52] Zisk responded to the comments through TMZ by denying the statements were made and stating the casting agency had hired extras who were older than the requested age range.[53][54] CNN reported Paramount was investigating the allegations and that no formal complaints had been filed.[55] The actors' labor union SAG-AFTRA also responded to the allegations, saying its scope does not include background actors in Atlanta but that it would provide any requested guidance; it also issued a statement condemning such comments toward any actor.[56] Thomas Mooneyham, a background actor on the series, stated he believed the comments were about him after he and another extra were replaced with younger people.[57] Stallone did not respond to the allegations.[58]

In November 2024, Stallone signed a contract to star in a third and fourth season of the program. With this, he reportedly received a raise after making $750,000 and $1,000,000 per episode in the first two seasons, respectively.[24][59] In March 2025, Chris Caldovino, McKenna Quigley Harrington, and Mike "Cash Flo" Walden were promoted to series regulars for season three.[60]

Production design

[edit]

The series' costume designer Suzanne McCabe based many outfits on the Gambino crime family and Franzese Crew, as well as photographs from newspaper clippings in the 1980s; she cited John Gotti as an inspiration.[61] McCabe also stated she tried to mostly use monochromatic colors for the show's costumes, using dark colors for the New York City-filmed scenes and softer colors for scenes in Oklahoma to represent that state's red soil.[61] Sylvester Stallone was allowed to pick many elements of his own costumes, including bolo ties, jewelry and shoes.[61] Production designer Todd Jeffery used a mix of soundstages and on-location filming for Tulsa King.[62] The sets for "The Higher Plane" dispensary featured in the series was created in a former Texaco gas station.[62] Mirrors were used in a scene that was filmed in a strip club to make the space appear larger.[62] Location manager Patrick Mignanom was tasked with finding a dilapidated structure whose owner would be content with having it blown up.[62] Saunder Jurriaans and Danny Bensi composed Tulsa King's theme song.[63]

Filming

[edit]
The exterior of a large building located in Oklahoma City that is used as film and television studios
Many interior scenes for the first season were filmed at Prairie Surf Studios in Oklahoma City, which also housed production offices.

Principal photography occurred over six months in Oklahoma City, Tulsa and Bethany, concluding on August 31, 2022.[64][65] Some filming occurred at Tulsa International Airport on March 29, 2022.[66] Additional locations used in Tulsa include Center of the Universe and the Mayo Hotel.[67] Other scenes were filmed on-location in Brooklyn, New York.[68] The series interior scenes and production offices were housed at Prairie Surf Studios.[69] Additional photography wrapped by October.[64] Filming in Oklahoma boosted the state's economy by an estimated $56 million.[70]

It was later reported the show's second season would not be filmed in Oklahoma due to costs, and complaints from the cast and crew, who did not like the extreme temperatures there.[71] Filming on the second season occurred in the Atlanta, Georgia, suburb Norcross, using Eagle Rock Studios for sound stages.[72] Filming began on April 1, 2024, and was scheduled to run until July 31.[70] Some filming also took place in Gainesville, Georgia.[73] Jelly Roll's scenes were filmed in April while he was touring for his latest studio album Beautifully Broken and was in the area. Stallone improvised lines for this scene which featured Jelly Roll performing a rendition of his song "I Am Not Okay".[46] A second unit filmed b-roll scenes in Tulsa in mid-June 2024.[74] Filming for the second season wrapped on August 2.[75][76]

Filming for the third season began in March 2025, with production taking place in Atlanta and Oklahoma.[77] The first episode was directed by Jim McKay.[78] Filming wrapped on July 2, 2025.[79]

Release

[edit]

The series premiere episode of Tulsa King received an early promotional screening with the fifth-season premiere of Yellowstone in AMC Theatres on October 29–30, 2022.[80][81] Tulsa King began its weekly release schedule on Paramount+ from November 13.[82] The series' first two episodes were broadcast on Paramount Network on November 20 and 27, serving as a lead-out for episodes of Yellowstone.[83] The first season concluded on January 8, 2023.[84] The first season received another linear broadcast, this time on CBS, with episodes being broadcast weekly from July 14 to September 8, 2024.[85][1]

The second season premiered in the United States and Canada on September 15, and internationally on September 16.[86] The third season would premiere on September 21, 2025.[87]

In Japan, the series was launched in a Paramount+ hub on the streaming service Wowow.[88]

Home media

[edit]

The first season received a home-media release on DVD and Blu-ray on June 6, 2023; an alternative SteelBook Blu-ray release accompanied the main release.[89]

Television home release details for Tulsa King season 1
Tulsa King: Season One
Set details Special features
  • 9 episodes
  • 3-disc set DVD
  • 2-disc set Blu-ray
  • English subtitles
  • Stranger in a Strange Land: Genesis
  • Carpe D.M.: Stallone
  • Mercy and Malice: The Cast
  • Haberdashery: Costume Design
  • Outthink Your Enemy: Stunts
  • The Here and Now: On Location in Tulsa
  • Behind the Story for every episode
DVD release dates
Region 1 Region 2 Region 4
June 6, 2023[90] June 5, 2023[91] N/A
Blu-ray release dates
Region A Region B
June 6, 2023[90] June 5, 2023[92]

Reception

[edit]

Viewing figures

[edit]

Season 1

[edit]

On Paramount+, Tulsa King's first season was Taylor Sheridan's fourth-most-watched series[93] with 3.36 billion minutes viewed.[94] In its first broadcast on Paramount Network, the series brought in 3.7 million viewers, exceeding the Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon as "cable's highest-rated series debut" of 2022.[95] It is also credited with the "biggest new sign-up day in [Paramount+] history".[96] The first season broadcast on CBS averaged 3.17 million viewers.[97]

Viewership and ratings per episode of Tulsa King[97][h]
No. Title Air date Rating/share
(18–49)
Total viewers
(millions)
1 "Go West, Old Man" July 14, 2024 0.18/2 3.40
2 "Center of the Universe" July 21, 2024 0.25/4 3.46
3 "Caprice" July 28, 2024 0.23/3 2.68
4 "Visitation Place" August 4, 2024 0.18/2 2.75
5 "Token Joe" August 11, 2024 0.26/4 2.97
6 "Stable" August 18, 2024 0.25/4 3.43
7 "Warr Acres" August 25, 2024 0.26/4 3.58
8 "Adobe Walls" September 1, 2024 0.13/2 2.72
9 "Happy Trails" September 8, 2024 0.27/2 3.51

Season 2

[edit]

The second-season premiere on Paramount+ was seen by two million people within 24 hours, with the number rising to 5.4 million households within its first seven days.[98] This also set a new record on the streaming service for largest number of viewers on a series' premiere day.[99] Social media engagements for season two also rose 943% when compared to that from the first season.[98] Tulsa King was ranked tenth on The Wrap's "list of titles consumers are most excited about" for the week of September 22, 2024.[100] Within 35 days of the second-season premiere, 10 million households had seen Tulsa King, beating the 9.5 million that viewed season one within the same time period by 8%. By this time, the series had eight times higher engagement and 17 times higher views than season one on social media platforms.[101] In Nielsen data Tulsa King ranked within the top-10 streaming series during the fourth quarter of 2024.[102]

Critical response

[edit]

Season 1

[edit]
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic65/100[103]
Rotten Tomatoes79%[104]
Review scores
SourceRating
The A.V. ClubB−[105]
Chicago Sun-TimesStarStarStarHalf star[106]
The Daily TelegraphStarStar[107]
Entertainment WeeklyC+[108]
The GuardianStarStarStar[109]
IndieWireB−[110]
USA TodayStar[111]

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 79% of 47 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.6/10. The website's consensus reads: "Tulsa King's stale comedy sometimes feels like ordering spaghetti with marinara and instead getting egg noodles and ketchup, but Sylvester Stallone still commands the screen with his swaggering charm."[104] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 65 out of 100, based on 28 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[103]

Darren Franich of Entertainment Weekly described the series as "Grumpy Old Grand Theft Auto".[108] CNN Entertainment's Brian Lowery described the series as an "odd mix of attributes" but praised the series' use of time.[112] Reviewing for The Guardian, Lucy Mangan praised the comedy aspect of the series but failed to see it innovating further.[109] Los Angeles Times writer Robert Lloyd called the series "likeable", commending its use of comedy and character focus.[113]

Tulsa King was often compared poorly to Winter's and Sheridan's other series; Sheridan was overseeing eight other series at the time Tulsa King debuted. The Hollywood Reporter's Daniel Fienberg wrote Sheridan's and Winter's main strength is not in comedy writing, despite the series being primarily marketed as a comedy.[114] Fienberg goes on to state: "the first two episodes definitely give the impression of being something that Sheridan, Paramount+'s golden goose at this point, gestated between work on 15 different Yellowstone sequels and prequels".[114] According to Anita Singh of The Daily Telegraph: "One of the writers, Terence Winter, has The Sopranos and Boardwalk Empire on his CV, but this show is to The Sopranos what Paw Patrol is to the works of David Attenborough".[107]

Writing for the National Public Radio (NPR) talk show Fresh Air, David Bianculli compared the formula of Tulsa King to that of Yellowstone and noted the "sense of time passing and the importance of family".[115] Stephan Lee with The Wrap said there is a "distinct straight-to-DVD quality to Tulsa King" but suggests the series stands on its own and is only poor when compared to Sheridan's and Winter's other works.[116] Ben Travers of IndieWire described Tulsa King as "less serious" and a "breath of fresh air" compared to the seriousness and consequences in Sheridan's other series.[110]

Stallone's acting received the highest praise from critics, although some criticized it for its lack of originality. Reviewing the first two episodes for Variety, Joshua Alston credited most of the series' success to Stallone, stating: "Tulsa King isn't a great show with him, but it would be far less interesting without him".[117] Richard Roeper, writing for the Chicago Sun-Times, said the series was written to Stallone's strengths.[106] The A.V. Club's Todd Lazarski also praised Stallone's acting but described the series as an "undercooked fish-out-of-water mob story".[105] USA Today writer Kelly Lawler criticized both the overall concept and Stallone saying he is "probably the king of something, but it's certainly not Tulsa, Oklahoma", and called the show "bad Goodfellas fan fiction".[111]

Season 2

[edit]
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Rotten Tomatoes100/100[118]
Review scores
SourceRating
Collider7/10[119]
EscribiendoCine6/10[120]

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 100% of 5 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.8/10.[118] Jeff Ewing with Collider wrote that the second season "introduced new threats, but struggles to find its tone", feeling that it started off with too many filler episodes before building exposition in the later episodes.[119]

Decider's Joek Keller stated that Tulsa King "has become less of a fish out of water story and more of a story about just what kind of absurd scheme Dwight and his motley crew can pull off". He further elaborated by saying that the first episode addressed too many storylines at one time and believing that it is becoming more focused on comedy than crime.[121] Writing for EscribiendoCine, Emiliano Basile praised Stallone's acting, writing that he "gives his character the characteristic charisma and powerful phrases that have accompanied him since Rocky." Basile also applauded the series costume design, and highlighted Sheridan's views on cultural views in the United States.[120]

The Quapaw Nation issued a statement during the broadcast of Tulsa King's second season, criticizing its portrayal of fictional tribal leaders in criminal conspiracies. They stated that production members did not give the tribe the chance to review the potential use of a fictionalized portrayal of themselves and that it "constituted cultural appropriation". In a follow-up statement, they later declared that a "positive resolution" had been reached with Paramount.[122]

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref(s).
2023 Critics' Choice Super Awards (3rd) Best Action Series, Limited Series or Made-for-TV Movie Tulsa King Nominated [123][124]
Best Actor in an Action Series, Limited Series or Made-for-TV Movie Sylvester Stallone Nominated
Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards (75th) Outstanding Stunt Coordination for a Comedy Series or a Variety Program Freddie Poole Nominated [125]
2024 Astra Television Awards (3rd) Best Streaming Comedy Series Tulsa King Nominated [126][127]
Best Actor in a Streaming Comedy Series Sylvester Stallone Nominated
2025 Saturn Awards (52nd) Best Action-Thriller Television Series Tulsa King Nominated [128][129]
Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards (77th) Outstanding Stunt Coordination for a Comedy Series or a Variety Program Freddie Poole Nominated [130]

Spin-off

[edit]

Winter confirmed in September 2024 that a spin-off series set in New Orleans was in the early stages of development.[131] The series was ordered under the title NOLA King on June 5, 2025, with Samuel L. Jackson taking on the lead role of Russell Lee Washington, Jr., a character similar to Stallone's.[132] He will executive produce the project alongside Glasser and Erickson, the latter of who will also write and showrun the series. Like Tulsa King, it will be produced by 101 Studios and MTV Entertainment Studios[133] Jackson's character is set to be introduced during a multi-episode third season story arc; the program will then begin filming in February, with Erickson departing from Tulsa King to work on the spin-off instead.[134] However, Erickson's remaining obligations to Tulsa King and Mayor of Kingstown, another series of Sheridan's, forced him to step down as showrunner of the spin-off after writing the pilot episode in July.[135] At that time it was reported that the search for a replacement was underway.[136]

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
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Tulsa King is an American crime drama television series created by that follows Dwight "The General" Manfredi, a mafia capo played by , who is released from after 25 years and exiled to , by his boss to establish a new criminal enterprise. Realizing his former mob associates no longer have his interests at heart, Manfredi recruits a ragtag crew of local outsiders to build his operation amid rival gangs and threats. The series blends elements of mob storytelling with fish-out-of-water comedy, showcasing Manfredi's old-school gangster tactics clashing with modern Midwestern life. Premiering on Paramount+ on November 13, 2022, the first season consists of nine episodes and quickly gained popularity for Stallone's charismatic lead performance, marking his first major starring role in a scripted series since 1976. The show was renewed for a second season shortly after its debut, which aired from September 15, 2024, to November 17, 2024, introducing deeper conflicts with indigenous crime syndicates and internal betrayals. Season three premiered on September 21, 2025, continuing the narrative with escalating tensions as Manfredi's empire faces federal scrutiny and personal vendettas. The ensemble cast includes Andrea Savage as attorney Stacy Beale, Jay Will as Tyson Mitchell, an employee at his father's tire shop, Martin Starr as tech-savvy pharmacist Lawrence Geigerman, and Max Casella as Armand Truisi, a soldier in Manfredi's crew, among others who portray the unlikely allies and adversaries in Tulsa's underworld. Produced by Sheridan's Bosque Ranch Productions in association with , Tulsa King is filmed primarily in to authentically capture the region's landscape and culture. Critically, the series has received positive reception, with Season 1 holding a 79% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 47 reviews, praised for its engaging premise and Stallone's nuanced portrayal of an aging mobster adapting to change. Season 2 earned a 100% critics score from initial reviews, highlighting stronger antagonist dynamics and character development. As of November 2025, Tulsa King remains a flagship original for Paramount+, with Season 3 episodes releasing weekly, a fourth season renewed, and a spin-off series, NOLA King, in development.

Overview

Premise

Tulsa King centers on Dwight "The General" Manfredi, a seasoned mafia capo who, after serving 25 years in prison for a committed on behalf of his boss, is unexpectedly exiled to , to establish a new criminal operation amid shifting power dynamics in the Invernizzi crime family. This relocation stems from internal alliances in the New York underworld that leave Manfredi out of favor, forcing him to start anew in an unfamiliar Midwestern city far from his established roots. Upon arrival, Manfredi discovers that his longtime mob family has no intention of supporting his return to power in New York, prompting him to assemble a ragtag from local Tulsa misfits, including a dispensary owner, a tire shop employee who serves as his , and a , to carve out a territory and build a viable criminal enterprise. This core conflict revolves around Manfredi's efforts to adapt his old-school mob tactics—rooted in intimidation and —to the modern, decentralized landscape of Oklahoma's , where he encounters resistance from established local players. The series weaves recurring motifs of cultural dislocation, contrasting East Coast Italian-American mob traditions with the laid-back, insular vibe of Midwestern , as Manfredi grapples with everyday absurdities like rideshare apps and progressive social norms. Underpinning the narrative are themes of , tested by betrayals from his past and the forging of bonds with untested allies; redemption, as Manfredi seeks to reclaim his status while confronting personal moral lines; and empire-building, depicting his strategic maneuvers to expand influence in hostile territory.

Format and style

Tulsa King episodes typically run for approximately 40 minutes, allowing for a tight pace that balances action sequences with character development. The series employs serialized , where ongoing plotlines build across episodes, but each season features self-contained arcs centered on Dwight Manfredi's escalating conflicts in Tulsa's . This structure facilitates binge-worthy progression while resolving major threats by season's end, as seen in the first season's focus on establishing Manfredi's crew amid local rivalries. The show fuses crime drama with comedic elements, drawing from Taylor Sheridan's neo-Western sensibilities to infuse mob tropes with a rugged, outsider perspective reminiscent of his work on Yellowstone. Influences from classic mob narratives, particularly , are evident in the exploration of an aging gangster's adaptation to , a theme showrunner Terrence Winter—known for writing on —brings to the fore. This blend creates a dramedy tone that tempers gritty criminal enterprises with fish-out-of-water humor, distinguishing it from purely noirish predecessors. Visually and narratively, Tulsa King mixes gritty action with humor delivered through sharp, profane dialogue, emphasizing character-driven subplots that highlight interpersonal dynamics over spectacle. Occasional voiceover narration by as Dwight Manfredi provides sardonic insight into the protagonist's inner thoughts, enhancing the personal stakes in a style that prioritizes wry commentary on and reinvention. The aesthetic evokes modern Americana, with Tulsa's urban and rural contrasts underscoring themes of displacement, much like broader oeuvre.

Cast and characters

Main cast

The main cast of Tulsa King features a core ensemble of actors portraying the central figures in Dwight Manfredi's criminal operations and conflicts in . Led by , the series emphasizes character-driven drama blending mob dynamics with local alliances and tensions. stars as Dwight "The General" Manfredi, a charismatic New York capo who, after 25 years in , is exiled to Tulsa by his to establish new territory; he applies his strategic leadership to build a crew and navigate unfamiliar challenges. Andrea Savage portrays Stacy Beale, a dedicated ATF agent transferred from New York to , where she investigates local threats while grappling with ethical conflicts arising from her interactions with Manfredi and his operations. Martin Starr plays Bodhi (full name Lawrence Geigerman), a laid-back, tech-savvy pharmacist and marijuana dispensary owner who becomes an unlikely ally to Manfredi, providing expertise on legal and handling logistical aspects of the group's ventures. Jay Will embodies Tyson Mitchell, an ambitious young cab driver from Tulsa who joins Manfredi's crew as an enforcer, bringing street smarts and loyalty to the fold. Garrett Hedlund depicts Mitch Keller, a rugged ex-bull rider and bar owner who serves as a key local contact for Manfredi, facilitating deals like nitrous oxide distribution through his establishment while embodying Tulsa's cowboy culture. Max Casella appears as Armand Truisi, a hot-headed former soldier from Manfredi's New York crime family who relocates to Tulsa, maintaining ties to the old guard while adapting to the new operation's demands. Robert Patrick stars as Jeremiah Dunmire, a ruthless magnate and powerful businessman who becomes Dwight's primary in season 3, using his influence and resources to challenge Manfredi's empire. Kevin Pollak plays Special Agent Musso, an FBI agent with a personal vendetta who intensifies the federal scrutiny on Manfredi's operations starting in season 3.

Recurring cast

Annabella Sciorra portrays Joanne Manfredi, the younger sister of protagonist Dwight Manfredi and a key contact in New York City, providing familial support and insights into the family's criminal past across multiple seasons. Initially recurring in season 1, her role was expanded to series regular for season 2 and continued into season 3, where she navigates tensions between Dwight's Tulsa operations and East Coast loyalties. Dana Delany plays Margaret Ingram, an affluent and influential businesswoman who forms a strategic partnership with Dwight, aiding his expansion into legitimate ventures while complicating his criminal endeavors in seasons 1 and 2. Her character returns in season 3 with an expanded presence, deepening her alliance with Dwight amid escalating threats from rivals and law enforcement. In season 3, existing recurring characters like Joanne and Margaret see further development, with Joanne's NYC ties drawing her deeper into Dwight's conflicts and Margaret's business acumen proving pivotal in countering new antagonists.

Notable guest stars

The third season of Tulsa King features in a pivotal guest role as Russell Lee Washington Jr., a seasoned and longtime associate of Dwight Manfredi from their shared criminal past in New York, whose arrival escalates tensions within Dwight's expanding operations. Jackson's multi-episode appearance not only heightens the stakes for the protagonists but also sets up a potential spin-off series centered on his character, expanding the universe. In the first season, delivers a memorable performance as Charles "Chickie" Invernizzi, the ambitious of the Invernizzi who emerges as a key adversary to Dwight upon his arrival in Tulsa, driving much of the early conflict through his ruthless pursuit of control. Season 2 introduces high-profile additions like as Cal Thresher, a formidable local businessman with deep ties to who poses a significant threat to Dwight's crew, and as Bill Bevilaqua, a Kansas City mob boss whose rivalry with Manfredi drives intense confrontations. Additionally, musician Jelly Roll makes a brief but impactful cameo as himself, appearing in a roadside encounter that adds a layer of cultural authenticity to the show's Oklahoma setting. These appearances underscore the series' tradition of leveraging established actors for roles that propel the narrative forward without overshadowing the core ensemble.

Episodes

Season 1 (2022–2023)

The first season of Tulsa King premiered on Paramount+ on November 13, 2022, and concluded on January 8, 2023, consisting of nine episodes. The series follows Dwight "The General" Manfredi (Sylvester Stallone), a New York mafia capo released from prison after serving 25 years, who is exiled to Tulsa, Oklahoma, by his boss to establish a presence for the Invernizzi crime family. Upon arrival, Dwight quickly recognizes that his former associates may not support his relocation, prompting him to assemble a ragtag crew of local recruits, including driver Tyson (Jay Will), dispensary owner Bodhi (Martin Starr), and aspiring criminal Mitch (Garrett Hedlund), to build a new criminal operation centered on marijuana distribution and other ventures. The season arc traces Dwight's adaptation to Tulsa's unfamiliar landscape, where he navigates initial alliances with locals while clashing with established criminal elements, particularly the biker gang led by Caolan Waltrip (), over territorial control and business interests. These conflicts escalate as Dwight's crew solidifies, drawing scrutiny from law enforcement, notably ATF agent Stacy Beale (), who investigates his activities amid her own personal dilemmas. The narrative emphasizes Dwight's strategic maneuvering to carve out an independent power base, blending humor with tension as he mentors his inexperienced team and confronts betrayals from his New York past. The premiere episode, "Go West, Old Man," attracted 3.7 million viewers across and a simultaneous Paramount Network broadcast, marking a strong debut for the series.
No. overallNo. in seasonTitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
11Go West, Old Man & November 13, 2022
22 & Joseph RiccobeneNovember 20, 2022
33CapriceRegina CorradoNovember 27, 2022
44Visitation PlaceBen SemanoffDave FlebotteDecember 4, 2022
55Token JoeBen SemanoffJoseph RiccobeneDecember 11, 2022
66StableDave FlebotteDecember 18, 2022
77Warr AcresBen SemanoffDave FlebotteDecember 25, 2022
88Adobe WallsJanuary 1, 2023
99Happy TrailsJanuary 8, 2023
In the , "Happy Trails," Dwight's crew confronts the biker gang in a decisive standoff, resolving immediate territorial threats but revealing deeper betrayals from the Invernizzi family. A flashback discloses that Dwight's long imprisonment stemmed from taking the fall for a major heist orchestrated by his late boss, Pete Invernizzi, heightening tensions with Pete's son and successor, Chickie (Chris Caldovino), who dispatches hitmen to eliminate Dwight. This , involving an ambush on Dwight's operation, sets up escalating threats from both local law enforcement and his former New York syndicate for the subsequent season.

Season 2 (2024)

The second season of Tulsa King premiered on September 15, 2024, on Paramount+, and consists of 10 episodes that aired weekly until the finale on November 17, 2024. The season was primarily directed by Craig Zisk, who helmed episodes 1, 2, 9, and 10, with additional direction by Joshua Marston (episodes 3 and 4), (episodes 5 and 6), and Kevin Dowling (episodes 7 and 8). Sylvester Stallone, who stars as Dwight Manfredi, co-wrote episodes 1 and 10 alongside , with the series created by . The season's episodes are as follows:
No. overallNo. in seasonTitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
111Back in the SaddleCraig ZiskTaylor Elmore, , September 15, 2024
122Kansas City BluesCraig ZiskStephen Scaia, September 22, 2024
133Oklahoma v. ManfrediJoshua Marston, Joseph RiccobeneSeptember 29, 2024
144Joshua Marston, David FlebotteOctober 6, 2024
155Tilting at WindmillsWilliam SchmidtOctober 13, 2024
166NavigatorOctober 20, 2024
177Life SupportKevin DowlingDavid FlebotteOctober 27, 2024
188Under New ManagementKevin DowlingWilliam Schmidt, November 3, 2024
199TriadCraig ZiskJoseph RiccobeneNovember 10, 2024
2010ReconstructionCraig Zisk, November 17, 2024
In season 2, Dwight Manfredi and his crew deepen their criminal operations in Tulsa, expanding into legitimate fronts like and dispensaries while navigating internal crew dynamics and external rivalries. The narrative builds on the first season's resolutions by focusing on Dwight's efforts to solidify his empire against encroaching threats, including the Kansas City mob led by figures like Bill Bevilaqua, and a ruthless local businessman, Cal Thresher, who seeks to control regional territory. Family reconciliations emerge as a key theme, particularly when Dwight reconnects with his estranged daughter, , prompting reflections on his past and attempts to mend personal ties amid his criminal pursuits. Mid-season shifts intensify the conflict around episode 6, "," where a bombing disrupts Dwight's operations and escalates tensions into open warfare, forcing strategic alliances and betrayals within his crew and against New York mob remnants like Chickie Invernizzi. These developments highlight Dwight's deepening entanglements with local and rival factions, testing loyalties among characters like Bodhi, Tyson, and Mitch. The , "Reconstruction," resolves several arcs by addressing the fallout from these clashes, including power shifts in the Kansas City and New York organizations, while setting up Dwight's ongoing challenges in maintaining his Tulsa foothold.

Season 3 (2025)

The third season of Tulsa King premiered on Paramount+ on September 21, 2025, consisting of ten episodes released weekly on Sundays. The season escalates Dwight Manfredi's challenges as he expands his criminal operations in Tulsa, facing heightened rivalries with the Dunmire family and the , who threaten his control over a valuable stash of fifty-year-old bourbon. Personal stakes intensify for Manfredi, including efforts to reopen his distillery amid sabotage and betrayals, while forging uneasy alliances to protect his crew. The narrative introduces crossovers within the universe through the guest appearance of as Russell Lee Washington Jr., a former associate of Dwight's who emerges as a formidable , setting up potential franchise expansions. As of November 19, 2025, the first nine episodes have aired, with the season concluding on November 23, 2025. The episodes focus on Manfredi's strategic maneuvers against rivals, internal crew dynamics, and high-stakes heists involving bourbon distribution.
No.TitleAir DateSynopsis
1Blood and BourbonSeptember 21, 2025Dwight negotiates the purchase of the Montague Distillery to bolster his operations, but early tensions with local rivals signal brewing conflicts over bourbon assets.
2The FiftySeptember 28, 2025The crew uncovers a hidden cache of fifty-year-old bourbon, drawing the attention of Jeremiah Dunmire, who confronts Dwight about territorial claims.
3The G and the OGOctober 5, 2025Dwight mentors younger crew members while navigating generational clashes and initial Dixie Mafia encroachments on his distribution plans.
4Staring Down the BarrelOctober 12, 2025The team launches a recovery operation for stolen bourbon from the Dunmires, escalating direct confrontations and testing loyalties.
5On the RocksOctober 19, 2025Sabotage at the distillery forces Dwight to improvise alliances amid mounting personal risks to his family and business.
6BubblesOctober 26, 2025With the distillery in ruins, revenge plots from Dunmire intensify, pushing the crew toward potential all-out war.
7Art of WarNovember 2, 2025Dwight pushes to reopen the distillery while Tyson, Goodie, and Spencer execute a sting operation; new threats are countered by securing a key ally.
8Nothing Is OverNovember 9, 2025Dwight uncovers a deadly plan by Dunmire and races to stop it.
9Dead WeightNovember 16, 2025As Dwight expands his liquor empire, Tyson's side hustle puts the crew at risk.
10Out of AdventureNovember 23, 2025(Finale; synopsis unavailable as of November 19, 2025)
The remaining episode will build toward a finale resolving the bourbon turf and Manfredi's evolving alliances.

Production

Development

Tulsa King was conceived by , who wrote the pilot script in less than 24 hours, drawing from his signature style of crafting gritty, character-driven narratives seen in series like Yellowstone. On December 6, 2021, Paramount+ announced a straight-to-series order for the project, initially titled Kansas City and co-developed by Sheridan alongside writer , who served as for the first season. The title was changed to Tulsa King in February 2022 to better align with the story's relocation to , reflecting adjustments made during early development. Following the on November 13, 2022, Paramount+ renewed Tulsa King for a second season on November 30, 2022, amid strong initial viewership. Winter stepped down as after the first season due to creative differences, transitioning leadership to Craig Zisk, who joined as and director for season two without a traditional structure. The renewal for season three was announced on March 18, 2025, coinciding with the start of production in and , and featured an increased budget, including a salary bump for lead actor to nearly $2 million per episode. took over as for this season, continuing the creative evolution under Sheridan's oversight. On September 16, 2025, ahead of the season three debut, Paramount+ renewed the series for a fourth season, bringing back Winter as while Erickson exited the role. As of November 2025, production on Season 4 began in without a full-time on set, with Winter overseeing writing remotely; earlier in October, 26 crew members were not retained for the season. This multi-season commitment underscores the show's growing success within Sheridan's expanding portfolio on the platform, though it remains a standalone entry without direct connections to his other interconnected universes.

Casting process

Sylvester Stallone was attached to star as Dwight "The General" Manfredi and serve as an for Tulsa King when Paramount+ announced the series on August 4, 2021, marking his first leading role in a television series. The project, created by , quickly moved into casting for supporting roles to complement Stallone's portrayal of an aging exiled to after 25 years in prison. Initial casting for season 1 began in early 2022, with announcements of key supporting actors emphasizing a mix of established character performers and emerging talent. On March 24, 2022, Paramount+ revealed that , , , and Jay Will had joined the cast in recurring roles, including Will as Tyson Mitchell, a local enforcer who becomes Manfredi's protégé. was announced on May 6, 2022, as ATF agent Stacy Beale, a romantic interest and adversary to Manfredi, transitioning from her comedic background to a dramatic role. followed on May 11, 2022, cast as Bodhi, the proprietor of a marijuana entangled in Manfredi's operations. For season 2, casting expanded the ensemble with recurring characters elevated to series regulars, including as , a rancher and ally to Manfredi, whose role grew significantly from its season 1 introduction; Hedlund's promotion was highlighted in early 2023 production updates. joined as Margaret Devereaux, a philanthropist with ties to the criminal , announced in March 2023 to add depth to the narrative's exploration of local power structures. Season 3 saw further expansions, with multiple new series regulars announced in March 2025, including as a law enforcement figure, as Special Agent Musso, as Cleo Montague, and as Quiet Ray Renzetti, broadening the scope to include more interpersonal conflicts and alliances. A notable guest role addition was as Russell Lee Washington Jr., Manfredi's prison associate from New Orleans, announced in September 2025, setting up a potential spinoff while integrating into the season's plot of escalating threats. The casting process faced challenges related to Stallone's age and the selection of diverse supporting roles. At 75 during season 1 production, Stallone's advanced age required accommodations for action sequences and stunts, influencing decisions to pair him with younger, physically dynamic co-stars like Jay Will to balance the ensemble's energy. Efforts to diversify the cast included Black actor Jay Will in a prominent role and incorporating actors from varied backgrounds, though background extras drew criticism for perceived biases. In April 2024, during season 2 filming in , extras casting director Rose Locke resigned, citing a "toxic environment" after allegations that Stallone and a director disparaged older, plus-sized, and disabled background actors, requesting "hip, young" and "pretty" alternatives instead; this incident highlighted tensions in achieving authentic diversity for Midwestern settings.

Filming

Principal photography for the first season of Tulsa King took place primarily in , , utilizing Prairie Surf Studios for interior scenes, while exterior shots were filmed in Tulsa to capture the city's authentic backdrop. Key Tulsa locations included South Boston Avenue in downtown, , the Center of the Universe, the , Triangle Coffee Roasters, the , the Meadow Gold Sign, and the . Filming for season 1 commenced in late 2022 in , with additional shoots in Tulsa beginning on March 29, 2022, and principal photography wrapping in October 2022 after an extended production period that included summer and early fall exteriors. The production adhered to protocols, including testing and masking requirements, as was standard for scripted series during that phase of the pandemic. For season 2, production shifted to Atlanta, Georgia, based at Eagle Rock Studios in Norcross, due to logistical preferences following the first season's experiences. Shooting ran from April 1 to July 31, 2024, after significant delays caused by the 2023 WGA strike (May to September) and the overlapping (July to November), which halted and pushed the timeline from an initial 2023 start. Season 3 returned to a hybrid approach, with primary filming in and select exteriors in and Tulsa from March 19 to early July 2025. The move away from full production for seasons 2 and 3 stemmed partly from challenges with the state's variable weather, including extreme summer heat that complicated outdoor shoots during season 1. Oklahoma's film incentives, enhanced by the 2021 Filmed in Oklahoma Act to offer up to 30% rebates, played a key role in attracting the initial season's production, providing over $14 million in rebates for season 1.

Design and music

The production design of Tulsa King blends traditional mob aesthetics with the contemporary, gritty urban landscape of , creating a visual contrast that underscores the protagonist's displacement from New York. Production designer focused on capturing the city's seamier elements, such as rundown motels, dive bars, and strip clubs, to evoke a sense of faded glory and everyday decay, while incorporating subtle nods to through period-inspired interiors like wood-paneled offices and leather-bound furnishings. This approach highlights the clash between Dwight Manfredi's East Coast sophistication and the raw, unpolished setting, drawing from real locations to ground the series in authentic Midwestern realism. Costume designer Suzanne McCabe crafted Dwight Manfredi's wardrobe to emphasize his unchanging mobster identity, featuring tailored suits, silk ties, and polished leather shoes inspired by real-life figures like , which stand in stark opposition to the casual, jeans-and-flannel attire of local Tulsa characters. This deliberate stylistic divide visually reinforces themes of cultural dislocation, with Stallone's character maintaining a formal, New York-rooted elegance amid the relaxed, blue-collar fashion of his new environment, such as rancher hats and work boots. McCabe collaborated closely with Stallone to ensure the outfits reflected his personal style preferences, blending mob flair with modern fits for practicality on set. The series' music features an original theme composed by Danny Bensi and Saunder Jurriaans, which opens each episode with a brooding, rhythmic motif that sets a tone of intrigue and relocation. Their score integrates modern orchestral and electronic elements with subtle Western-inspired motifs and blues or rock instrumentation, building tension through pulsing rhythms during action sequences while injecting wry humor via lighter, ironic cues that mirror the show's blend of drama and comedy. Notable licensed tracks include Robert Ross's "Drink 'Em Down," featured in a key bar scene in the Season 3 premiere, adding a country-infused energy to moments of character reflection and conflict.

Release

Broadcast and distribution

Tulsa King premiered exclusively on Paramount+ in the United States on November 13, 2022, with the first season's initial two episodes released simultaneously, followed by one new episode each subsequent Sunday until the season finale on January 8, 2023. The second season launched on the same platform on September 15, 2024, adhering to a weekly Sunday release schedule for its 10 episodes, concluding on November 17, 2024. Season three began on September 21, 2025, continuing the weekly episode drop model on Sundays at 3:00 a.m. ET for its 10 episodes, with the season finale airing on November 23, 2025. Internationally, the series is distributed via Paramount+ in available markets worldwide, including , , and . In select European countries such as the , , and , it streams on SkyShowtime, a joint venture between and . Additionally, Paramount+ is offered as a channel add-on through in regions like the and the , allowing subscribers access to the series via that platform.

Marketing and promotion

The marketing campaign for Tulsa King emphasized Sylvester Stallone's star power and the series' ties to creator Taylor Sheridan's expanding universe, beginning with a teaser trailer released on June 15, 2022, which introduced Dwight Manfredi's relocation to Oklahoma and garnered early buzz ahead of the show's fall premiere. A full official trailer followed on October 16, 2022, highlighting the mob drama's action and humor, distributed across Paramount+'s YouTube channel and social media platforms. For Season 3, promotional efforts intensified with an exclusive first-look trailer unveiled on August 6, 2025, via , teasing escalating conflicts and new cast additions. The official trailer dropped on September 2, 2025, on and Paramount+, spotlighting Samuel L. Jackson's guest role as Russell Lee Washington Jr., a character bridging to the upcoming NOLA King spin-off and emphasizing crossovers within Sheridan's interconnected storytelling. Promotional campaigns featured extensive interviews with Stallone, including appearances on The Rich Eisen Show in November 2022 to discuss the series' origins and his character's evolution, as well as in September 2025 and in October 2025, where he and co-stars like promoted Season 3's high-stakes narrative. Tie-ins with Tulsa tourism capitalized on the show's filming locations, boosting visitor interest through guided tours of sites like the and , with local officials noting a surge in inquiries following the premiere. The Season 3 premiere on September 21, 2025, was supported by social media campaigns leveraging Sheridan's Yellowstone fanbase, including teaser posts on official and channels that cross-promoted the elements. Additional TV spots aired on Paramount+ in late October 2025, reinforcing the series' blend of crime drama and Western influences.

Home media

The first season of Tulsa King became available for digital purchase on platforms including Apple TV (iTunes) and Amazon Prime Video starting April 11, 2023. Physical releases followed on June 6, 2023, with DVD and Blu-ray editions distributed by Paramount Home Entertainment, including a limited-edition SteelBook variant. These sets feature over 90 minutes of bonus content, such as behind-the-scenes featurettes including "Stranger in a Strange Land: Genesis," which explores the series' origins, and "Carpe D.M.: Stallone," focusing on lead actor Sylvester Stallone's involvement. The second season followed a similar pattern, with episodes available for digital purchase on iTunes and Amazon shortly after its Paramount+ premiere in September 2024. Blu-ray (two-disc) and DVD (three-disc) sets were released on , 2025, containing all ten episodes along with supplementary materials like two exclusive featurettes offering candid cast interviews and Stallone's personal tribute to the production team. As of November 2025, no home media release has been announced for the third season, which premiered on Paramount+ in September 2025. Throughout all seasons, Paramount+ subscribers can download episodes for offline viewing via the platform's app.

Reception

Viewership

The first season of Tulsa King premiered on Paramount+ on November 13, 2022, drawing 3.7 million viewers in the United States according to Nielsen measurements, which included both day-of viewing on Paramount Network and three days of delayed streaming on Paramount+; this figure marked a strong debut driven by word-of-mouth growth in subsequent weeks. The second season, which premiered on September 15, 2024, saw continued audience expansion on Paramount+, outpacing the first season by 8% in global household viewership through comparable periods, with the premiere episode alone reaching 5.4 million global households in its first seven days and the full season accumulating 13.6 million global households by December 2024. As of November 2025, early data for the third , which premiered on , 2025, indicates sustained popularity, with the series topping Paramount+'s global streaming charts in the weeks following its debut, accumulating 452 million viewing minutes in late September 2025 alone, and ranking as the second most-watched original overall in the U.S., ahead of fellow series like Yellowstone. Viewership trends have been particularly robust in the United States and , where Tulsa King has consistently outperformed other Sheridan-produced shows in streaming metrics during its run, contributing to its status as Paramount+'s top original series.

Critical reception

Tulsa King has received generally positive critical reception, particularly for its blend of humor, action, and Sylvester Stallone's lead performance, though some reviewers have noted formulaic storytelling and pacing issues across its seasons. On , the series holds an overall Tomatometer score of 88% based on 60 reviews. Metacritic gives Season 1 a score of 66 out of 100, based on 34 reviews, reflecting a generally favorable but mixed response. For Season 1, critics praised Stallone's charismatic portrayal of Dwight Manfredi, highlighting his swagger and ability to carry the show's corny, amusing tone, with the Critics Consensus noting it as a "commanding performance" that makes the series enjoyable despite some stale comedy elements. The season earned a 79% Tomatometer score from 47 reviews, with common commendations for the humor and strong , including and Jay Will. However, some reviews criticized the implausible plots and lack of nuance, describing it as formulaic in its crime drama tropes. Season 2 maintained strong critical approval, achieving a 100% Tomatometer score from six reviews, lauding its effective balance of , , and humor, with Stallone's magnetic presence remaining a standout. Reviewers appreciated the cinematic and engaging ensemble dynamics, though a few found the episode eye-rolling in parts despite its overall entertainment value. did not assign a score due to insufficient reviews, but user feedback echoed praises for the humor and character development. Season 3, as of November 2025, scored 86% on the Tomatometer from seven reviews, with critics acclaiming the escalation in action and Stallone's core appeal—depicted as a suited with in hand—delivering violently funny that sustains weekly viewership. rated it 75 out of 100 based on four reviews, praising the character-centric narrative and improved conflict juggling, which positions it as the series' strongest installment yet. Reviews specifically highlighted Samuel L. Jackson's guest role as Russell Lee Washington Jr., which effectively sets up the NOLA King spin-off while expanding the franchise's scope, though some noted weak subplots and underdeveloped supporting characters as drawbacks. This positive buzz has correlated with sustained viewership momentum into late 2025.

Accolades

Tulsa King has garnered nominations across various awards ceremonies, primarily recognizing its stunt work, action genre elements, and lead performance by Sylvester Stallone, though it has yet to secure any wins as of November 2025. In 2023, the series received a nomination at the 75th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards in the category of Outstanding Stunt Coordination for a Comedy Series or Variety Program, credited to stunt coordinator Freddie Poole for his work on the show's high-energy action sequences. At the same year's 3rd Critics' Choice Super Awards, Tulsa King was nominated for Best Action Series, competing against shows like Reacher and Vikings: Valhalla, while Stallone earned a nod for Best Actor in an Action Series. The production design by Todd Jeffery also drew recognition in Variety's Artisans series for authentically depicting the gritty underbelly of Oklahoma through locations like seedy strip clubs and abandoned mills. The following year, at the 3rd Astra TV Awards in 2024, Tulsa King was nominated for Best Streaming Comedy Series alongside entries such as Ted Lasso and The Bear, with Stallone receiving another nomination for Best Actor in a Streaming Comedy Series. In 2025, the series continued its awards momentum with a nomination at the 77th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards for Outstanding Stunt Coordination for Comedy Programming, again honoring Freddie Poole. It also earned a nomination at the 52nd Saturn Awards for Best Action/Thriller Television Series. Following the premiere and conclusion of Season 3 earlier in 2025, Tulsa King remains eligible for further recognition in the 2026 awards cycle, including potential Emmy and other genre honors.

Franchise expansion

Season 4

Paramount+ renewed Tulsa King for a fourth season on September 16, 2025, shortly before the third season's premiere on September 21. The renewal includes 10 episodes, continuing the format established in the second and third seasons. Creator remains involved as an executive producer, with returning as head writer and executive producer after Dave Erickson's departure from the show. However, as of November 2025, no has been appointed for the season. As of November 2025, production on season 4 has begun, following crew adjustments in October 2025 that replaced 26 members, including Sylvester Stallone's stunt double. No official release date has been announced, though the season is anticipated for late 2026 or 2027 based on typical production timelines for the series. The fourth season is expected to explore Dwight Manfredi's expanding criminal operations potentially reaching beyond Tulsa, building on the national stakes introduced in prior installments without resolving ongoing conflicts. This renewal follows strong performance from previous seasons, including robust viewership for season 3.

NOLA King spin-off

NOLA King is an upcoming American crime drama television series serving as a spin-off of Tulsa King, starring Samuel L. Jackson in the lead role as Russell Lee Washington Jr., a formidable New Orleans crime boss who seeks to reclaim control of his territory after years in federal prison. The series is set in the broader universe created by Taylor Sheridan, expanding on the criminal underworld dynamics introduced in the original show. Development of NOLA King began under the guidance of as executive producer, with initially writing the pilot and serving as before stepping away in July 2025 due to scheduling conflicts. Paramount+ officially ordered the series on July 17, 2025, marking it as the first spin-off from Tulsa King and Jackson's debut as a lead in a series. Washington's character was introduced in Tulsa King season 3, episode 9, which aired on November 15, 2025, establishing his backstory as a former ally of protagonist Dwight Manfredi during their shared time in prison. Filming for NOLA King is scheduled to commence in February 2026, with a targeted in 2027 on Paramount+. The narrative will explore Washington's return to New Orleans, where he navigates alliances and rivalries tied to Manfredi's operations in Tulsa, including a pivotal decision to forgo an order from the Renzetti in favor of partnership. This connection underscores the spin-off's integration into the Tulsa King franchise, emphasizing themes of loyalty and territorial expansion in the criminal landscape.

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