Mitch Keller has experienced plenty of change in Tulsa King Season 2. The most complex member of Dwight Manfredi’s crew has been growing into a savvy businessman, and is now poised to take over a whole car dealership. Of course, there’s still the matter of rivals from both inside and outside Tulsa to settle — with Season 2, Episode 5, “Tilting at Windmills” reminding fans that he has no problem taking care of business in a violent way either.
CBR spoke to Garrett Hedlund about the direction of Mitch’s character in the second season. The actor discussed the higher stakes of Season 2, and revealed whether or not his character will get to face off against new additions Frank Grillo and Neal McDonough. And with Mitch already having sung this season, Hedlund reflected on how his music career wound up becoming part of his character.
Garrett Hedlund: What I wanted to explore most in Mitch in Season 2 was, I was intrigued to see how he was going to be a more critical part of this blossoming empire moving forward. With Dwight and [Mitch] already becoming partners, and turning the Bred 2 Buck into this money-churning casino, entertainment space, deal-making space, danger-creating space of ideas.
I just wanted to see what what was going to be next. And I don’t feel the writers disappointed in this whatsoever. There’s going to be some really fun directions we go in this season that allow Mitch to be a little more humorous; just wait and see.
The first season was plenty action-packed for him, and things are even crazier now. How dirty will his hands get in Season 2?
What happens at Bred 2 Buck — I’ll just say it: there’s never a dull moment. The stakes are heightened in this season. Danger’s heightened. The opposing force is coming for their turf of Oklahoma. We’re just extending our reach and taking all we can get, so it’s going to be big.
Mitch is one of the Tulsa King characters who could be successful without Dwight. He seemed to be doing okay before Dwight came along, but he also seems to be at home when the heat is on. How do you perceive him as a character? Is there something that draws him back to the action?
Mitch had the exhilarating touch of being a bull rider. He had some troubles in his past which led to being behind bars; he made his amends for for all of that. And [then] he sort of got himself a comfortable, nice life.
I think Dwight comes in and really stirs that pot up. Offers him sort of what he had in his old life, but with the security and assurance that this time, precautions of trust and safety and reliance will be made. I think Dwight comes in and shows him how he can do the dangerous shit he always wanted to do a little more wisely and get away with it.
There are some impressive new villains in town: Neal McDonough’s character Cal Thresher and Frank Grillo playing Kansas City mobster Bill Bevilaqua. Mitch hasn’t seen much of them yet, but will he get to stare them down later in Season 2? And what did it mean to you to have these actors join the show?
Mitch doesn’t. The addition of these guys was fantastic. They’re both wonderful, wonderful men [and] wonderful actors. It was nice to have a few more additions to this already phenomenal cast. Mitch, unfortunately, doesn’t cross them too often. Not saying it won’t happen in the future, though.
Do you have a Mitch moment from either season that you’ve really loved? Or what have you enjoyed playing this character?
Not necessarily. I think there’s so many moments in this season where where you get to see a whole new side of Mitch and I think that’s going to be nice. A slightly lighter side that’s able to laugh and and sort of enjoy himself a little bit. And most importantly, in this season I think there’s a version of Mitch that really gets to laugh at himself, and that’s the best part.
Mitch has already gotten to sing a little in Tulsa King Season 2, and audiences know you also have a music career. How fun has it been to incorporate that into the show?
About halfway through the first season, Sly [Sylvester Stallone] proposed we bring the music to Mitch. I was going to oppose it, and then I just said fuck it. It’s so fun. I love music. Adding that to Mitchell’s repertoire is wonderful. It’s colorful. It gave us such a wonderful season finale last year.
And people seem to enjoy it. I enjoy it. Sly enjoys it. If it makes us all happy, why not? I look forward to seeing how we can do more of it. I know all the songs from both Season 1 and Season 2 are going to be released .