Sylvester Stallone’s gritty crime series Tulsa King will ramp up the tension in its second season with the addition of a new adversary, courtesy of Yellowstone alum Neal McDonough. The Paramount+ series will return with McDonough playing Cal Thresher, a formidable and territorial businessman in Tulsa, per Variety.
The show’s pilot season introduced viewers to Dwight, a seasoned Mafia operative played by Stallone, who starts afresh in Tulsa, Oklahoma, after his release from prison. Establishing a new criminal network with an eclectic crew, Dwight’s efforts to dominate the local underworld were met with mixed challenges and alliances.
McDonough’s character is readying to shake up the existing order. As Cal Thresher, his presence introduces a significant rivalry, setting the stage for gripping confrontations that are sure to define the series’ next chapter. With the stakes higher than ever, fans can expect a thrilling escalation in the power struggles and strategic games that Tulsa King has so effectively delivered.
Tulsa King May Have Been Inspired by True Events
The Paramount+ series Tulsa King has quickly cemented itself as a viewer favorite, garnering enough acclaim to secure a second season. The series’ mob-centric narrative, led by Stallone, tells a complex tale of crime and redemption. Fans, intrigued by the show’s storytelling and ambiance, are left pondering if its storyline bears roots in actual events.
Taylor Sheridan, the creative force behind successful projects like Sicario and Yellows tone, is known for his narrative crafting that often blurs the lines between fiction and historical reality. Sheridan’s knack for creating compelling storylines that appeal to viewers has once again proven successful with Tulsa King.
The show presents Stallone as Dwight “The General” Manfredi, a mobster who, after a lengthy prison stint, is unceremoniously exiled by his capo from New York to Tulsa, Oklahoma. There, he must learn, adapt, and eventually lead an unfamiliar criminal landscape.
According to ScreenRant, while the plot of Tulsa King is wholly original, its premise of exile and the building of a new criminal empire bears striking resemblances to real-life mob tales, most notably the story of the Inzerillo crime family.
“The story in Tulsa King may draw inspiration from the Inzerillo family and their relationship with the mafia. In a successful bid to take leadership of the Sicilian mafia, Salvatore Riina and the Corleonesi faction of the mafia nearly exterminated the Inzerillo family and their other rivals throughout the ’70s. After the Gambinos and the Inzerillos’ other American allies intervened on the family’s behalf, Salvatore Riina allowed the Inzerillos to escape his wrath, provided they leave and never set foot on Sicilian soil ever again.”
This historical background could very well serve as a loose template for Tulsa King. However, unlike the international banishment of the Inzerillos, Tulsa King presents an internal displacement—shifting the bustling streets of New York for the expansive landscapes of Oklahoma.
Although Sheridan has not explicitly stated that the show is based on true events, the similarities with historical mob activities provide a textured layer that might have subconsciously influenced the narrative.