Tulsa King has added 2 stars to its cast for season 2, and they could signal major changes to the show that would set it up to replace Yellowstone.
Tulsa King has made several big changes to its cast ahead of season 2, and they could indicate a major shift for the show that would allow it to replace Yellowstone, another Taylor Sheridan creation. Tulsa King season 2 is set to be even bigger and more exciting than its debut season, especially after Tulsa King season 1’s cliffhanger ending. To make good on that promise, the show has added two major stars to its cast, and they could be signs of even bigger changes to Tulsa King than just its cast.
Those changes could be setting Tulsa King up to be Taylor Sheridan’s long-awaited replacement for Yellowstone. Since Yellowstone season 5, part 2 will be the show’s finale, and because it’s been such a major success, many have speculated about what new project Sheridan could replace it with. While Sheridan has several upcoming projects, he could also look to one of his existing shows to take Yellowstone’s place as his most important series. Tulsa King may be the perfect choice to do so, and some recent casting choices could indicate that it’s being set up to do just that.
Tulsa King Season 2 Added Neal McDonough & Frank Grillo To Its Cast
McDonough & Grillo Add A Lot Of Talent To Tulsa King Season 2
In recent weeks, there have been two big casting announcements for Tulsa King season 2. Frank Grillo recently signed on for Tulsa King season 2, and he’ll be able to bring the experience he gained by playing Crossbones in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In Tulsa King, Grillo will be playing a rival mobster from Kansas City who tries to edge in on Dwight’s territory. Additionally, Tulsa King season 2 also announced Neal McDonough as part of its cast. McDonough played Malcolm Beck in Yellowstone, and he’ll be playing a business person in Tulsa, and will likely also be at odds with Dwight.
Tulsa King Season 2’s Cast Is Significantly Different From Season 1
Tuls King Season 2’s Increased Star Power Could Signal A Shift In Storytelling
The newest additions to Tulsa King season 2 seem to indicate that it will vary significantly from the first season. In Tulsa King season 1, there was an ensemble cast of characters, but all the actors were less well-established than Sylvester Stallone was as Dwight. Because of that, and even though Tulsa King’s side characters had a significant role in the season, it was all about Dwight for the most part. Stallone was the main draw for the entire show, and as its biggest star, he was mostly carrying the series by himself.
That seems set to change with Tulsa King season 2, though. McDonough and Grillo are big name actors in their own right, and they should be able to add enough star power that season 2 won’t have to focus exclusively on Dwight. That, coupled with the fact that both of them have been added as series regulars, likely indicates that their characters will be quite important to season 2. McDonough and Grillo can also choose almost any project they want to work on, which means their characters likely won’t be simply defeated and discarded like Caolan Waltrip was.
Instead of being just a simple obstacle Dwight needs to overcome in Tulsa King season 2, McDonough and Grillo could become major, consistent players in the new season’s larger story. If that’s the case, it could be a sign that Tulsa King will experience a major shift in storytelling style. Instead of being a character-driven show led by Stallone, Tulsa King season 2 could be about several major players all fighting for the power to call themselves the king of Tulsa. That style of storytelling, where the setting itself is almost a major character, shares a lot of similarities with Yellowstone.
Tulsa King’s Story Shift Could Make It A Yellowstone Replacement For Taylor Sheridan
Tulsa King Would Be Very Similar To Yellowstone If It Implements These Storytelling Changes
The only potential difference is that Tulsa King would take place in Oklahoma instead of Montana and follow gangsters instead of cowboys.
If Tulsa King season 2 does shift to that more ensemble-driven style of storytelling, it could begin to replace another of Taylor Sheridan’s shows: Yellowstone. Both stories would tell a sprawling story of several important people trying to control an area. Dwight would still be the main character of Tulsa King, but he could shift to becoming more like John Dutton, while McDonough and Grillo would challenge his power, much like Yellowstone antagonists like Thomas Rainwater or McDonough’s Malcolm Beck. The only potential difference is that Tulsa King would take place in Oklahoma instead of Montana and follow gangsters instead of cowboys.
Those changes to Tulsa King’s style would set it up perfectly to replace Yellowstone, and some of Tulsa King’s recent behind-the-scenes changes have indicated Sheridan is treating it as such. The showrunner of Tulsa King season 1 was only involved in the second season as a writer, which might mean that Sheridan would have a bigger role in the show’s development. If he has taken a more hands-on approach to Tulsa King season 2, it could be a sign that he’s more invested in its success. That, combined with the potential shift in storytelling style and its new cast members, could make Tulsa King the new Yellowstone.