The Making Of ‘Tulsa King’: Sylvester Stallone’s Jump Into Western Gangster Drama

Advertisement

Behind The Scenes:

Remember Rocky Balboa? Rambo? That’s right, we’re talking about Sylvester Stallone. He’s switching from boxing rings and battlefields to star in a new crime series called ‘Tulsa King.’ Doesn’t that sound cool? And guess what… it wasn’t even supposed to be in Tulsa!

Trading Kansas City for Tulsa

Isn’t it funny how one simple chat can change things? That’s precisely what happened between Taylor Sheridan, the guy who created ‘Yellowstone,’ and his production buddy, David Glasser. One Friday night, Glasser mentioned Stallone’s wish to act as a gangster. Like magic, Sheridan quickly wrote a pilot script, called ‘Kansas City King.’

Sheridan is a whiz at coming up with amazing storylines. He whipped up the script super fast, and Stallone loved it. Terence Winter, the dude who made ‘Boardwalk Empire,’ also got involved. Talk about a powerhouse team!

How Tulsa King Came to Life

Now, you’d think it’d be simple from here on out, right? Nope! As the story grew, the tough-guy mafia role for Stallone didn’t seem to fit. Stallone and Winter wanted more personality for the character, not just a mob guy who muscles his way around.

They thought a Western touch would be perfect. And so, ‘Kansas City King’ got a new name and location: ‘Tulsa King.’ Goodbye big city vibes, hello countryside! Oklahoma was just right to give Stallone’s character the cool chilled-out yet gangster blend.

Advertisement

Not Smooth Sailing

Creating ‘Tulsa King’ wasn’t smooth sailing. Stallone and Sheridan are both strong-minded. Stallone likes some tweaks here and there, while Sheridan sticks to the script. But, they finally found the middle ground, and voila! ‘Tulsa King’ was born.

At the moment, cameras are rolling for Season 2 in Oklahoma and Atlanta. With rumors of competition with Schwarzenegger’s show, ‘The Continental,’ things will only get more interesting.

What’s Coming in Season 2

Get ready for an emotional rollercoaster in Season 2! Dwight ‘The General’ Manfredi is back, as quickly as he left in the first season. And there’s fresh blood in the form of Kansas City mobster Bill Bevilaqua, played by Frank Grillo. Local businessman Cal Thresher, enacted by Neal McDonough, is another exciting addition.

We’re all buzzing waiting for Season 2! Stallone’s cowboy-style gangster is sure to blow your mind. Stay tuned for this spectacle!

Wrap Up

So, there you have it, the story behind Stallone’s jump into the ‘Tulsa King’ series. A casual chat, a script, a character reinvented, and an unexpected location change. It’s fascinating how things come together. This series promises to be a thrill ride, and we’re all on board!

Advertisement
Advertisement