Tulsa King is an American crime drama television series created by Taylor Sheridan for the streaming platform Paramount+. The series stars Sylvester Stallone as Dwight "The General" Manfredi, an American Mafiacaporegime who has been recently released from prison in New York and is sent to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he begins to set up a criminal organization. It is Stallone's first leading role in a scripted television series.
The series also stars Andrea Savage, Martin Starr, Jay Will, Max Casella, Domenick Lombardozzi, Vincent Piazza, A. C. Peterson, Garrett Hedlund, and Dana Delany. After receiving an early premiere in theaters on October 29, 2022, the series was released on Paramount+ from November 13, 2022, to January 8, 2023. Shortly after premiering, Tulsa King was renewed for a second season, which premiered on September 15, 2024 and concluded on November 17.
Terence Winter was the showrunner for the first season, but due to differences with Sheridan, he was demoted to head writer before the second, while director Craig Zisk produced the second season. Dave Erickson took over as showrunner for the third season. The first season was largely filmed in Oklahoma City, but primary production on the second season relocated to Atlanta after the cast and crew complained. Annabella Sciorra, Tatiana Zappardino, Frank Grillo, and Neal McDonough joined the second-season main cast. Paramount later confirmed the third season renewal by announcing the start of production. A fourth season as well as a spin-off series called NOLA King which will star Samuel L. Jackson, have both been ordered. The third season premiered on September 21, 2025.
The series has proved to be a success by providing a television ratings boost during its broadcast on Paramount Network and setting viewership records on Paramount+. Critics have given Tulsa King generally positive reviews. Many have praised Stallone's performance, but some criticized the dialogue and overall story arc. In 2023, Tulsa King was nominated for a Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Award.
Premise
Dwight "The General" Manfredi is the American Mafiacapo from New York City who has just finished serving a 25-year prison sentence. Upon release, Dwight's boss sends him to Tulsa, Oklahoma, to establish criminal operations there. Dwight, who does not know anyone in the area, seeks a new crew to help him establish his empire. He first meets taxi driver Tyson Mitchell, whom he recruits as his personal driver, and acquires financing by threatening and later befriending Lawrence "Bodhi" Geigerman, the owner of a local dispensary. While attempting to grow his enterprise, Dwight gains many more associates, including Mitch Keller, who owns a bar Dwight frequents. Dwight initially remains in contact with the syndicate in New York but later begins to despise them. Dwight and his crew become enemies with the outlaw biker gang The Black Macadams. During this time, Dwight experiences personal and family problems as a result of his actions. Stacy Beale, a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE; commonly known as ATF) agent and Dwight's love interest, investigates Dwight's actions and those of his crew.
Sylvester Stallone as Dwight "The General" Manfredi, a capo in the Invernizzi family who is sent to Tulsa after serving 25 years in prison for murder, boss of the Manfredi family in Tulsa
Andrea Savage as Stacy Beale, Manfredi's love interest in season 1 and a senior ATF agent. She is transferred to Alaska as punishment for failing to secure a conviction of Dwight in season 2.
Martin Starr as Lawrence "Bodhi" Geigerman, a marijuana dealer who Manfredi recruits to help finance his syndicate, associate of the Manfredi family, Even Higher Plane crew
Jay Will as Tyson Mitchell, a former taxi driver who becomes Dwight's driver and the first member of the Manfredi syndicate, associate of the Manfredi family, Bred-2-Buck crew
Max Casella as Armand "Manny" Truisi, a former Invernizzi soldier who made a new life in Tulsa working at Fennario horse ranch after breaking his vow to the family. He joins Manfredi's crew after unsuccessfully trying to kill him, soldier of the Manfredi family and bookmaker, Bred-2-Buck crew
Domenick Lombardozzi (season 1–2) as Don Charles "Chickie" Invernizzi, underboss and later boss of the Invernizzi family
Vincent Piazza as Vince Antonacci, Chickie's top capo, and later consigliere of the Invernizzi family, new boss of the Antonacci/Invernizzi family
A. C. Peterson as Pete "The Rock" Invernizzi (season 1), the ailing boss of the Invernizzi family until he was killed by his own son Chickie.
Garrett Hedlund as Mitch "the Stick" Keller, an ex-rodeo star, ex-convict and bar owner who is an associate of the Manfredi syndicate, lieutenant of the Manfredi family, Bred-2-Buck crew
Dana Delany as Margaret Devereaux, the owner of Fennario horse ranch. She becomes Dwight's love interest in season 2.
Tatiana Zappardino as Tina Manfredi-Grieger (season 2–present; recurring season 1), a Brooklyn florist and Dwight's estranged daughter
Annabella Sciorra as Joanne Manfredi (season 2–present; recurring season 1), Dwight's younger sister
Neal McDonough as Cal Thresher (season 2–present), corrupt businessman, large producer and distributor of marijuana, an oil tycoon who is an associate with Jackie Ming.
Frank Grillo as Bill Bevilaqua (season 2–present), boss of the Bevilaqua family of Kansas City
Chris Caldovino as Dennis "Goodie" Carangi (season 3; recurring season 1–2), long-time capo and consigliere of the Invernizzi family who joins Manfredi in Tulsa, underboss and consigliere of the Manfredi family in Tulsa
McKenna Quigley Harrington as Grace (season 3; recurring season 1–2), associate of the Manfredi family, Even Higher Plane crew
Mike "Ca$h Flo" Walden as Michael "Bigfoot" (season 3; recurring season 2), associate, enforcer and bodyguard of Manfredi family and Mitch's cousin, Bred-2-Buck crew
Beau Knapp as Cole Dunmire (season 3), Jeremiah's eager son and Mitch's rival
Robert Patrick as Jeremiah Dunmire (season 3), the so-called tyrant of Tulsa, a zealous and powerful man, who wants to obtain the Montague distillery
Bella Heathcote as Cleo Montague (season 3), the rebellious daughter of Theodore Montague and Mitch's old flame
Kevin Pollak as Musso (season 3), the special agent in charge of handling Dwight as an asset following his detainment
Dwight Manfredi is released from prison 25 years after a murder on behalf of the New York Invernizzi crime family. Despite refusing to testify against boss Pete "The Rock", Invernizzi and his son Don Charles "Chickie", Dwight gets sent to Tulsa because the family has no prospects for him in New York. Dwight is furious and punches one of Chickie's men, Vince, in the jaw. Arriving in Tulsa Airport, Dwight adjusts to life and gets into a taxi driven by Tyson Mitchell. Upon learning that marijuana is illegally sold at a local dispensary, Dwight extorts the owner, Lawrence "Bodhi" Geigerman, for "protection" after throwing a bottle at Fred and threatening Bodhi to break his foot. Dwight walks out with forty thousand dollars of Bodhi's money; he then hires Tyson as his personal driver and gives him £50,000 to purchase a new Lincoln Navigator for him. Dwight tells Bodhi needs to launder his cannabis money. As Dwight makes new companions in Tulsa, such as Mitch, and establishes his base of operations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) learns of his presence and issues a bulletin to all federal agents in Tulsa, including Stacy Beale, an ATF agent who had an anonymous one-night stand with Dwight.
2
2
"Center of the Universe"
Allen Coulter
Terence Winter & Joseph Riccobene
November20,2022(2022-11-20)
Dwight tries to find out information about his daughter, Christina, but he needs the card details for it. Tyson persuades Dwight to get a new drivers' license so he can obtain a debit card for expenses. Stacy finds information on Dwight from her colleague. Dwight then visits Bodhi and insists on meeting with his supplier Jimmy. After educating himself on the intricacies of legalised marijuana, Dwight cuts a more favourable deal for better product with Jimmy. Tyson's father Mark grows concerned Tyson is throwing away any chance of a future by associating with Dwight. Chickie agrees to Vince's request for a large cash gift from Dwight to end their disagreement. Stacy visits Dwight to reveal her employer; Dwight insists she has nothing to fear from him. A ranch hand named Armand discovers Dwight's presence and begins planning to take action against him. Dwight uses his debit card to pay for information about his estranged daughter Tina; he tries to call her, but she refuses to talk to Dwight after he estranged her 18 years earlier.
Stacy is assigned to investigate The Black Macadams, a local biker gang, after a member dies by suicide in his house using explosives. Armand tries to shoot Dwight during Dwight's driving test; Dwight survives but the experience persuades him to end his relationship with Tyson. Tyson, who is infatuated with his new gangster lifestyle, rebuffs Dwight and insists on working as his right-hand man. Dwight involves Bodhi and Mitch in a scheme to sell nitrous oxide as a party drug during an upcoming Tulsa music festival; Dwight persuades Mitch to use his bar as a front to obtain supplies of the gas without suspicion. Stacy reconnects with Dwight after they share dinner, and they have sex together. Dwight conducts his own investigation, using his contacts to identify Armand as the shooter. He buys a gun, but while preparing to kill Armand at his home, Dwight hesitates after seeing Armand's young son run out to hug him.
Dwight waits until Armand is alone and then questions him. Armand reveals that the Invernizzi family tried to have Dwight killed during his prison sentence, and Armand feared that Dwight had now come to Tulsa to kill him. Dwight spares him and instead demands a monthly cut of Armand's income. Dwight's plan to sell nitrous oxide hits a setback when Black Macadam bikers, who are selling drugs at the same festival, assault Dwight's crew and steal the gas tanks. To resolve the problem, Dwight and his men, accompanied by Mark, surprise the bikers as they are packing up for the night, assault them with baseball bats, and take back the gas tanks and their stolen money. Tyson and his father reconcile, but Tyson finds himself divided between his family and his loyalty to Dwight. Armand assaults a rude neighbor and decides not to move out of Tulsa. Stacy has sex with a handsome stranger who buys her a drink. Dwight, with the help of his sister Joanne, says goodbye to his dying younger brother Joey.
5
5
"Token Joe"
Ben Semanoff
Joseph Riccobene
December11,2022(2022-12-11)
Dwight flies to Brooklyn to attend Joey's funeral; while there, he takes the opportunity to speak with Tina. Tina still refuses to forgive her father, and says during his time in prison, she was raped by Nico, one of Chickie's men, despite Pete swearing to protect her when Dwight was convicted. An enraged Dwight beats Nico to death in front of Chickie and Vince. Caolan Waltrip, Black Macadam's sergeant-at-arms, has corrupt state police officers on his payroll arrest Tyson and confiscate his phone. After Tyson is coerced into unlocking his phone, the bikers learn about Dwight's connection to Bodhi and force him to reveal Mitch is fronting his drug racket. When the officers attempt to intimidate Mitch, Mitch compels them to release Bodhi and leave by saying his bar is on Cherokee tribal land and they have no jurisdiction. Armand's colleague Roxy warns Armand to stop encroaching on Waltrip's turf.
Dwight again meets with his daughter before flying back to Tulsa. On his return, he finds Tyson has been arrested and that Bodhi is missing. Waltrip meets with Dwight and demands a cut of his business, but Dwight refuses. Stacy warns Dwight about his activities and that the FBI is getting involved. The Invernizzi family, mainly Chickie, are split on how to handle Dwight. Pete insists on having his consigliere visit Tulsa to calm the situation, instead Chickie assaults Tina's husband Emory. Federal agents shut Bodhi's shop, but Bodhi refuses to betray Dwight. After learning Pilot, the white horse he has grown fond of will be euthanized, Dwight buys Pilot and hires ex-waitress Spencer to take care of him. Waltrip has Roxy's boyfriend Carson Pike shoot up Mitch's bar; Dwight and Mitch return fire and Pike is killed. Mitch agrees to accept Dwight as a business partner.
7
7
"Warr Acres"
Guy Ferland
Terence Winter & Joseph Riccobene
December25,2022(2022-12-25)
Dwight and Mitch send Pike's bullet-hole-ridden jacket to The Black Macadams. In New York, Pete is recovering and is back at home with Chickie, who does not seem happy. Roxy calls Stacy about Pike and agrees to meet Stacy to talk about the incident. Roxy is revealed to be an informant for the ATF. Pete becomes angry when he hears Dwight gave his ring to Tyson and that Tina is still getting mysterious calls. Waltrip captures Roxy, discovers her secret and strangles her. Pete ignores Chickie while Chickie is bathing him; in a fit of rage, Chickie drowns Pete and becomes the new boss of the family. Dwight is distressed by the news of Pete's death.
With the increasing threat of The Black Macadams, Dwight and Mitch train their inexperienced men to shoot. Stacy visits Waltrip but fails to implicate him in Roxy's murder. Jimmy agrees to become a business partner with Dwight and Mitch to open a new casino. Chickie decides to kill Dwight and his family, calls him to pretend to make amends, and says they will visit him very soon. When Stacy again meets Dwight, Waltrip and a henchman shoot at them, wounding Stacy. Police arrive and Dwight is detained for questioning.
9
9
"Happy Trails"
Lodge Kerrigan
Terence Winter
January8,2023(2023-01-08)
In a flashback from 1997, Chickie, Vince and Armand are torturing Ripple, a member of their family; they handcuff him to a radiator in a run-down building and brand his face with a red-hot potato masher. The potato masher falls on a pile of rags, and the whole room is engulfed in flames. Dwight arrives and shoots Ripple to prevent him from dying in the fire, and is arrested outside the burning building (which explains his prison sentence). In the present, as amends, Dwight gives Stacy a flash drive that accesses a million-dollar bank account. Chickie, Vince and Goodie go to Tulsa, where Dwight surprises them and demands they leave, with the exception of Goodie, who joins Dwight's crew. Bodhi hacks into Waltrip's computer and empties his bank accounts. The Black Macadams invade the Bred 2 Buck; the two gangs fight, but the Manfredi crew prevails, and Dwight kills Waltrip. Three months later, the casino is open, Dwight reconciles with Tina and Stacy is reinstated to the ATF. Outside the casino, Stacy has Dwight arrested for bribery, with the flash drive as evidence.
In jail, Dwight meets Harlan, who has been incarcerated for an energy scam in which he gambled away $12.5 million grant money for a wind farm he owns. The next day, in the courthouse Dwight negotiates a bail for himself, with Tina paying $300,000 for his bail. At the casino, Mitch introduces Dwight to his cousin, Bigfoot, whom Dwight hires as his bodyguard. Dwight also tells the group about Harlan's wind farm scam, and decides to invest in it to power up a new weed farm, to which everyone agrees. While visiting the ranch, Margaret tells Dwight about a charity function organized by Cal Thresher, the biggest medical marijuana supplier in Tulsa, and invites Dwight to meet him. Dwight then visits Stacy at her home and says that he does not hold grudges over how she had him arrested. The next day, Dwight and the gang attend the function. Dwight meets with Thresher, who shows Dwight disdain for encroaching into his business. Furious, Dwight decides to leave the function. Cal then calls upon Bill Bevilaqua, boss of the Kansas City mob and inquires about Dwight, also mentioning that Dwight has now officially stepped into Bevilaqua's territory of Tulsa.
Dwight and his daughter Tina go house hunting as she plans to move to Tulsa with her family to be closer to him. Meanwhile, Cal secretly contacts District Attorney Dylan McGrath, aiming to sabotage Dwight's chances of acquittal. At a court session to schedule the trial, Dwight chooses to represent himself, while Dylan leads the prosecution. Bevilaqua falsely frames Dwight's expansion into Tulsa as an act of war, unaware that Chickie and Dwight have already parted ways. Armand confides in Tyson about his financial struggles, and the two, along with the crew, pull off a successful heist stealing catalytic converters from Donnie's dealership. Dwight visits Harlan in prison to negotiate the purchase of his farms for $7.5 million, but a bank denies Dwight a loan. Joanne visits him and announces she's moving to Tulsa, urging him to consider a plea deal for Tina's sake. While at Dylan's office, Dwight discovers evidence of Dylan and Cal's collusion, raising doubts about Dylan's true motives. At the dispensary's successful grand opening, Dwight is forced to hide at Tyson's house due to media attention. The next day, he learns that Cal, Bevilaqua, and now the Chinese Triads are threats. Meanwhile, Chickie tries to recruit Goodie to betray Dwight in exchange for power.
As Dwight prepares for his trial, Armand struggles with his divorce and meets Cal, who gives him tens of thousands of dollars in exchange for information on Dwight's operations. Meanwhile, Tina and Joanne move into a new home while dealing with the strict head of the local Homeowners Association. Goodie faces pressure from Chickie and Bevilaqua to betray Dwight. At trial, Dwight defends himself against charges of bribing a federal agent. He calls Stacy to the stand and cleverly uses their past relationship to argue that the $1 million flash drive was a thank-you gift, not a bribe. Bevilaqua demands compensation from Dwight for operating in Tulsa. Dwight firmly refuses, declaring that he answers to no one and owns Tulsa. The jury finds Dwight not guilty. Later, Chickie orders Goodie to lure Dwight out of the casino, where Carl, Bevilaqua's enforcer, plans to ambush him. During Dwight's celebration party, Goodie informs him that Carl wants to meet. Outside, Carl attempts to draw a gun, but Bigfoot grabs him, allowing Goodie to stab him to death. Dwight, fully aware of the setup, has Bigfoot and Goodie dispose of the body. That night, Dwight shares a dance and romantic moment with Margaret. Bevilaqua discovers Carl's corpse at his doorstep, igniting a war.
After Jimmy's death, the Native American tribe holds a funeral, with Old Smoke delivering a eulogy. MedHat and his son gift Dwight a tomahawk from Jimmy's mother, pledging support in the brewing conflict. On the ride home, Bodhi asks Dwight about taking out Bevilaqua, but Dwight brushes it off. Goodie later reveals Armand stole £500,000 from Dwight, prompting plans to eliminate Bevilaqua. Meanwhile, Chickie is told to negotiate Dwight's return to New York but is blocked from flying. Bevilaqua urges his crew to lie low and plans to handle Thresher. Thresher confronts Bevilaqua for siding with Ming, then warns Margaret that Ming now controls his business and that Ming is a threat to her. Margaret urges Dwight to mediate. She reveals she sold 49% of her ranch to Thresher, and this is Ming who is behind the recent attack against Tyson's father, not Bevilaqua. Dwight agrees to a sit-down. At the meeting, Thresher blames Ming for the assassination attempt. Armand, secretly working with Dwight, tips off Ming about Dwight's location. At Margaret's ranch, Dwight's allies, including the tribe and Bevilaqua's men, ambush and kill Ming's men and injure Ming. Bigfoot and Mitch capture Ming, and Tyson kills him in revenge. In a flashback, Armand returns Dwight's money and agrees to lure Ming. Dwight informs Margaret that her ranch is safe and his mission is complete.
19
10
"Reconstruction"
Craig Zisk
Terence Winter & Sylvester Stallone
November17,2024(2024-11-17)
Dwight, Bodhi, Tyson, and Bigfoot confront Thresher at his vast 18,200-acre weed farm. Dwight reminds Thresher that he saved his life and killed Ming, then threatens him. Thresher insults Bigfoot, earning Dwight's reluctant respect. Dwight announces he's taking over the farm and advises Thresher to return to his oil empire. Thresher agrees and leaves peacefully. Meanwhile, Mitch buys Donnie's car business. Donnie jokes about using his money to start a rival dealership. Vince informs Dwight that Chickie is out and that he now leads the Invernizzi family. Dwight confirms this to Goodie. Bevilaqua seeks a partnership for taking out Ming's crew, but Dwight offers only 25% due to Jimmy's murder, angering Bevilaqua. Chickie visits Dwight's weed store and tries to convince him to return to New York, but Dwight refuses, insisting Tulsa is his home. Armand apologises to Margaret, who forgives him. Later, Chickie plots with Bill to kill Dwight, but Bill urges him to rebuild family trust. At a final meeting, Chickie proposes expansion. When he interrupts Bill, Bill shoots Chickie in the head, killing him and demands 50%, which Dwight grants. The FBI begins investigating Dwight. Mitch's car ad is a hit, and Dwight enjoys a rare moment of peace — until masked gunmen raid Margaret's home and abduct him, hinting at a sequel.
Terence Winter, the showrunner, was fired and later re-hired by creator Taylor Sheridan ahead of the second season. He left of his own accord before season three.
Sheridan wrote the pilot episode in a week.[17] Winter moved the show's setting to Tulsa, Oklahoma, to give the characters a more-remote setting.[18] In 2022, Deadline Hollywood stated the show was given a straight-to-series order under the title Tulsa King to reflect the change in location.[19] Stallone involved himself in several aspects of the production. Winter noted: "With Stallone, you're getting a writer, a director, a producer, an editor"; and Glasser said Stallone was "heavily involved in the editing process".[20]
On November 30, 2022, Tulsa King was renewed for a second season.[21] The following February, it was announced Winter had resigned as showrunner due to "creative differences"; a new showrunner was sought but Winter would remain as an executive producer of the show.[22] It was later revealed Sheridan had dismissed Winter because of differences in writing style; Sheridan stated he preferred character-driven plots whereas Winter preferred plot-driven characters.[23] In February 2024, Winter was re-hired as a writer after an opening in his schedule due to delays caused by the 2023 Writers' Guild of America strike.[24] In his modified position, Winter is the series' head writer and works outside Sheridan's direct supervision.[25][26][27] Sheridan chose not to use a conventional showrunner for the second season and instead decided to hire a director and executive producer to oversee day-to-day production.[28] It was announced Craig Zisk would fill this role.[29]
In November 2024, it announced that Tulsa King was on track to secure a third and fourth season renewal.[30] Winter once again resigned from the series in order to work on the untitled Sammy the Bull series for FX.[31] A third season was officially confirmed in March 2025. At this time, it was reported that Dave Erickson would fill the position of a traditional showrunner, with Zisk's status unknown.[32] Ahead of the season three premiere, it was reported that a fourth season had been ordered. Erickson will depart the show due to obligations on another Sheridan series, Mayor of Kingstown, and Winter is set to once again join the program, returning in a head writer and executive producer capacity.[33]
Casting
Sylvester Stallone stars in the series lead role as Dwight "The General" Manfredi.
At the time the series was announced, Sylvester Stallone was participating in negotiations to star as Tulsa King's lead character Sal in his scripted television debut.[15] Stallone's character was later renamed Dwight "The General" Manfredi.[34] Stallone stated filming television was more difficult and time-consuming than the films in which he had starred.[35] On March 24, 2022, Max Casella, Domenick Lombardozzi, Vincent Piazza and Jay Will were added to the cast; Casella, Lombardozzi and Piazza portray members of the Invernizzi family crime syndicate while Will stars as a recent college graduate who becomes a member of Dwight's crew.[34] In May, A. C. Peterson, Andrea Savage, Garrett Hedlund and Martin Starr were reported to be starring in the series;[36][37][38][39] they were followed in July by Dana Delany[40] and Annabella Sciorra in August.[41]Miles Mussenden also stars in the series.[42] Stallone's daughter Scarlet appears in the series as Spencer, a barista and stable hand who is recruited to work with Dwight.[43][44] Scarlet was originally considered for the role of Stallone's on-screen daughter but was considered too young for the role,[43] which instead went to Tatiana Zappardino.[45] Additional casting for minor characters and background actors occurred in May 2022.[46]
Before production of the second season, Sciorra and Zappardino were promoted to the main cast.[47]Frank Grillo also joined the main cast, starring as Bill Bevilaqua, a mobster from Kansas City.[48] On May 1, 2024, it was reported Neal McDonough would appear as Cal Thresher.[49] Two days later, Rich Ting was cast in the recurring role of Jackie Ming.[50]Jelly Roll, an American singer, songwriter, and rapper, made a cameo appearance as himself. He said he had been a fan of the series and is friends with Sistine, another daughter of Stallone's, who made the necessary connections.[51] Casting for additional extras in the second season occurred in June 2024.[52]
During filming for the second season, Stallone and an unnamed director were accused of making disparaging remarks about background extras.[53][54] Stallone was allegedly heard calling certain background actors "ugly", "tub of lard" and "fat guy with a cane".[55] Stallone also suggested the production should instead cast "pretty young girls to be around me".[56] The Atlanta-based casting agency Rose Locke & CL Casting, which had been responsible for hiring extras, resigned from the production soon after.[57] Zisk responded to the comments through TMZ by denying the statements were made and stating the casting agency had hired extras who were older than the requested age range.[58][59]CNN reported Paramount was investigating the allegations and that no formal complaints had been filed.[60] The actors' labor union SAG-AFTRA also responded to the allegations, saying its scope does not include background actors in Atlanta but that it would provide any requested guidance; it also issued a statement condemning such comments toward any actor.[61] Thomas Mooneyham, a background actor on the series, stated he believed the comments were about him after he and another extra were replaced with younger people.[62] Stallone did not respond to the allegations.[63]
In November 2024, Stallone signed a contract to star in a third and fourth season of the program. With this, he reportedly received a raise after making $750,000 and $1,000,000 per episode in the first two seasons, respectively.[30][64] In March 2025, Chris Caldovino, McKenna Quigley Harrington, and Mike "Cash Flo" Walden were promoted to series regulars for season three.[65]
Production design
The series' costume designer Suzanne McCabe based many outfits on the Gambino crime family and Franzese Crew, as well as photographs from newspaper clippings in the 1980s; she cited John Gotti as an inspiration.[66] McCabe also stated she tried to mostly use monochromatic colors for the show's costumes, using dark colors for the New York City-filmed scenes and softer colors for scenes in Oklahoma to represent that state's red soil.[66] Sylvester Stallone was allowed to pick many elements of his own costumes, including bolo ties, jewelry and shoes.[66] Production designer Todd Jeffery used a mix of soundstages and on-location filming for Tulsa King.[67] The sets for "The Higher Plane" dispensary featured in the series was created in a former Texaco gas station.[67] Mirrors were used in a scene that was filmed in a strip club to make the space appear larger.[67] Location manager Patrick Mignanom was tasked with finding a dilapidated structure whose owner would be content with having it blown up.[67] Saunder Jurriaans and Danny Bensi composed Tulsa King's theme song.[68]
Filming
Many interior scenes for the first season were filmed at Prairie Surf Studios in Oklahoma City, which also housed production offices.
It was later reported the show's second season would not be filmed in Oklahoma due to costs, and complaints from the cast and crew, who did not like the extreme temperatures there.[76] Filming on the second season occurred in the Atlanta, Georgia, suburb Norcross, using Eagle Rock Studios for sound stages.[77] Filming began on April 1, 2024, and was scheduled to run until July 31.[75] Some filming also took place in Gainesville, Georgia.[78] Jelly Roll's scenes were filmed in April while he was touring for his latest studio album Beautifully Broken and was in the area. Stallone improvised lines for this scene which featured Jelly Roll performing a rendition of his song "I Am Not Okay".[51] A second unit filmed b-roll scenes in Tulsa in mid-June 2024.[79] Filming for the second season wrapped on August 2.[80][81]
Filming for the third season began in March 2025, with production taking place in Atlanta and Oklahoma.[82] The first episode was directed by Jim McKay.[83] Filming wrapped on July 2, 2025.[84]
Release
The series premiere episode of Tulsa King received an early promotional screening with the fifth-season premiere of Yellowstone in AMC Theatres on October 29–30, 2022.[85][86]Tulsa King began its weekly release schedule on Paramount+ from November 13.[87] The series' first two episodes were broadcast on Paramount Network on November 20 and 27, serving as a lead-out for episodes of Yellowstone.[88] The first season concluded on January 8, 2023.[89] The first season received another linear broadcast, this time on CBS, with episodes being broadcast weekly from July 14 to September 8, 2024.[90][1]
The second season premiered in the United States and Canada on September 15, and internationally on September 16.[91] The third season would premiere on September 21, 2025.[92]
In Japan, the series was launched in a Paramount+ hub on the streaming service Wowow.[93]
Home media
The first season received a home-media release on DVD and Blu-ray on June 6, 2023; an alternative SteelBook Blu-ray release accompanied the main release.[94]
Television home release details for Tulsa King season 1
On Paramount+, Tulsa King's first season was Taylor Sheridan's fourth-most-watched series[98] with 3.36 billion minutes viewed.[99] In its first broadcast on Paramount Network, the series brought in 3.7 million viewers, exceeding the Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon as "cable's highest-rated series debut" of 2022.[100] It is also credited with the "biggest new sign-up day in [Paramount+] history".[101] The first season broadcast on CBS averaged 3.17 million viewers.[102]
Viewership and ratings per episode of Tulsa King[102][b]
The second-season premiere on Paramount+ was seen by two million people within 24 hours, with the number rising to 5.4 million households within its first seven days.[103] This also set a new record on the streaming service for largest number of viewers on a series' premiere day.[104] Social media engagements for season two also rose 943% when compared to that from the first season.[103]Tulsa King was ranked tenth on The Wrap's "list of titles consumers are most excited about" for the week of September 22, 2024.[105] Within 35 days of the second-season premiere, 10 million households had seen Tulsa King, beating the 9.5 million that viewed season one within the same time period by 8%. By this time, the series had eight times higher engagement and 17 times higher views than season one on social media platforms.[106] In Nielsen dataTulsa King ranked within the top-10 streaming series during the fourth quarter of 2024.[107]
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 79% of 47 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.6/10.The website's consensus reads: "Tulsa King's stale comedy sometimes feels like ordering spaghetti with marinara and instead getting egg noodles and ketchup, but Sylvester Stallone still commands the screen with his swaggering charm."[109]Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 65 out of 100, based on 28 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[108]
Darren Franich of Entertainment Weekly described the series as "Grumpy Old Grand Theft Auto".[113]CNN Entertainment's Brian Lowery described the series as an "odd mix of attributes" but praised the series' use of time.[117] Reviewing for The Guardian, Lucy Mangan praised the comedy aspect of the series but failed to see it innovating further.[114]Los Angeles Times writer Robert Lloyd called the series "likeable", commending its use of comedy and character focus.[118]
Tulsa King was often compared poorly to Winter's and Sheridan's other series; Sheridan was overseeing eight other series at the time Tulsa King debuted. The Hollywood Reporter's Daniel Fienberg wrote Sheridan's and Winter's main strength is not in comedy writing, despite the series being primarily marketed as a comedy.[119] Fienberg goes on to state: "the first two episodes definitely give the impression of being something that Sheridan, Paramount+'s golden goose at this point, gestated between work on 15 different Yellowstone sequels and prequels".[119] According to Anita Singh of The Daily Telegraph: "One of the writers, Terence Winter, has The Sopranos and Boardwalk Empire on his CV, but this show is to The Sopranos what Paw Patrol is to the works of David Attenborough".[112]
Writing for the National Public Radio (NPR) talk show Fresh Air, David Bianculli compared the formula of Tulsa King to that of Yellowstone and noted the "sense of time passing and the importance of family".[120] Stephan Lee with The Wrap said there is a "distinct straight-to-DVD quality to Tulsa King" but suggests the series stands on its own and is only poor when compared to Sheridan's and Winter's other works.[121] Ben Travers of IndieWire described Tulsa King as "less serious" and a "breath of fresh air" compared to the seriousness and consequences in Sheridan's other series.[115]
Stallone's acting received the highest praise from critics, although some criticized it for its lack of originality. Reviewing the first two episodes for Variety, Joshua Alston credited most of the series' success to Stallone, stating: "Tulsa King isn't a great show with him, but it would be far less interesting without him".[122] Richard Roeper, writing for the Chicago Sun-Times, said the series was written to Stallone's strengths.[111] The A.V. Club's Todd Lazarski also praised Stallone's acting but described the series as an "undercooked fish-out-of-water mob story".[110]USA Today writer Kelly Lawler criticized both the overall concept and Stallone saying he is "probably the king of something, but it's certainly not Tulsa, Oklahoma", and called the show "bad Goodfellas fan fiction".[116]
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 100% of 5 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.8/10.[123] Jeff Ewing with Collider wrote that the second season "introduced new threats, but struggles to find its tone", feeling that it started off with too many filler episodes before building exposition in the later episodes.[124]
Decider's Joek Keller stated that Tulsa King "has become less of a fish out of water story and more of a story about just what kind of absurd scheme Dwight and his motley crew can pull off". He further elaborated by saying that the first episode addressed too many storylines at one time and believing that it is becoming more focused on comedy than crime.[126] Writing for EscribiendoCine, Emiliano Basile praised Stallone's acting, writing that he "gives his character the characteristic charisma and powerful phrases that have accompanied him since Rocky." Basile also applauded the series costume design, and highlighted Sheridan's views on cultural views in the United States.[125]
The Quapaw Nation issued a statement during the broadcast of Tulsa King's second season, criticizing its portrayal of fictional tribal leaders in criminal conspiracies. They stated that production members did not give the tribe the chance to review the potential use of a fictionalized portrayal of themselves and that it "constituted cultural appropriation". In a follow-up statement, they later declared that a "positive resolution" had been reached with Paramount.[127]
Winter confirmed in September 2024 that a spin-off series set in New Orleans was in the early stages of development.[136] The series was ordered under the title NOLA King on June 5, 2025, with Samuel L. Jackson taking on the lead role of Russell Lee Washington, Jr., a character similar to Stallone's.[137] He will executive produce the project alongside Glasser and Erickson, the latter of who will also write and showrun the series. Like Tulsa King, it will be produced by 101 Studios and MTV Entertainment Studios[138] Jackson's character is set to be introduced during a multi-episode third season story arc; the program will then begin filming in February, with Erickson departing from Tulsa King to work on the spin-off instead.[139] However, Erickson's remaining obligations to Tulsa King and Mayor of Kingstown, another series of Sheridan's, forced him to step down as showrunner of the spin-off after writing the pilot episode in July.[140] At that time it was reported that the search for a replacement was underway.[141]
↑ The following ratings are only for Tulsa King's first season linear broadcast on CBS and do not include viewing figures from Paramount+ or Paramount Network.
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