Tulsa King has had some major changes and controversies ahead of season 2, and understanding them is key to knowing how they’ll impact the show.
Production of Tulsa King has been very rocky and controversial, and the changes and allegations that have been made about the show have cast a shadow over season 2. Tulsa King stars Sylvester Stallone as Dwight “The General” Manfredi, and it has become one of Paramount’s biggest streaming successes. With Stallone’s star power and creator Taylor Sheridan’s work behind the camera, Tulsa King has many things going for it.
Tulsa King season 2 has had several promising updates recently. Production now seems to be moving rapidly, and many of Tulsa King’s original cast are returning, with a recent casting choice adding a new element to Tulsa King season 2 that will benefit it. Not every development about Tulsa King has been positive, though, and the show has experienced major changes and had allegations made against it. Those controversies are very serious, and they could negatively impact season 2 and the future of the show.
Tulsa King’s Showrunner Left After Season 1 – And Was Then Re-Hired For Season 2
He left due to creative differences, and was rehired only as a writer
Terence Winter, the showrunner for Tulsa King season 1, quit the show after the first season was completed. According to Deadline, Winter had creative differences with executive producer and creator Taylor Sheridan, and since they couldn’t agree on the direction the show should take, he stepped down from the role. Sheridan has a famously hands-on approach to his shows that often clashes with other writers on the project. He’s even publicly stated that he has problems with writers’ rooms in general, and that his writing style often doesn’t mix well with outside influences.
Now, though, Winter has been rehired on Tulsa King, though he will only be working as a writer, which should mean there will be less collaboration between him and Sheridan. Winter reportedly returned due to his love for the characters and the story, as well as his positive relationship with star Sylvester Stallone. Tulsa King won’t have a showrunner anymore, the position will instead be filled by an executive producer, which somewhat addresses Winter’s creative concerns.
Tulsa King Season 2’s Set Has Faced Allegations Of Being A Toxic Environment
Stallone and others reportedly made derogatory comments about background actors
In another piece of controversy, Tulsa King’s casting agency quit the show. The agency, Rose Locke Casting, reportedly quit because Tulsa King and Sylvester Stallone have been accused of creating a toxic work environment. Allegedly, Stallone and an unnamed director made derogatory comments about background actors on the show, insulting their appearances and physical disabilities. Stallone and the director reportedly used comments like “ugly” and “tub of lard” to describe the extras, and Stallone allegedly requested they be replaced with “pretty young girls,” all of which contributed to the claims of a toxic work environment.
What Tulsa King’s BTS Changes & Allegations Mean For Season 2
Season 2 should be relatively unchanged, but the future of the series is much more uncertain now
The behind the scenes changes and allegations surrounding Tulsa King are extremely worrying for the future of the show, but season 2 should be relatively unaffected.
Tulsa King’s writer’s situation leaves the story of season 2 uncertain. It’s unclear whether Winter’s or Sheridan’s vision for the story and characters will prevail. Another unknown variable is whether the executive producer charged with taking on the showrunner’s responsibilities will take the show in a new direction or defer to a previous plan. After the ending of Tulsa King season 1, there were several directions the show could have taken. Luckily, Winter’s return to the series seems to indicate that he was happy enough with the show’s direction to resume writing, which should mean season 2 will still feature the parts of season 1 that worked well.
The allegations that Tulsa King has created a toxic work environment are much more worrying for the future of the show. If the claims made against Stallone and the show are proven true, they could have serious consequences. Most likely, the allegations will create legal troubles and impact how quickly new seasons can be created and how easily new extras can be hired, but in the most extreme scenario, Tulsa King could be canceled by Paramount in response to backlash. Tulsa King has been a major success for Paramount+, but the severity of the claims could cause insurmountable problems.
The behind the scenes changes and allegations surrounding Tulsa King are extremely worrying for the future of the show, but season 2 should be relatively unaffected. Filming is currently underway for Tulsa King season 2, meaning the creative direction the show will take is mostly set. Since season 2 is set for a fall 2024 release, any potential consequences of the alleged toxic environment will likely have a bigger effect on season 3. It’s unclear exactly how Tulsa King’s changes and allegations will affect the show in the future, though they do paint a worrying picture.