Key Takeaways:
– Sylvester Stallone stars in Taylor Sheridan’s ‘Tulsa King’ series.
– The show was originally set to be based in Kansas City.
– Emmy-winning Terence Winter joined the project as a showrunner.
– Season 2 is already in production, with some changes in location.
Imagine, Sylvester Stallone, brandishing his unique swagger, in a gritty crime drama based not in the mean streets of New Jersey, but in the airy plains of Kansas City. Crazy, right? But that was the original plan for ‘Tulsa King’, a new series Stallone is starring in.
From Kansas City King to Tulsa King
The journey from ‘Kansas City King’ to ‘Tulsa King’ began with a casual talk between Taylor Sheridan, the brains behind mega-hits like ‘Yellowstone’, and his production partner David Glasser on a typical Friday night. Glasser brought up Stallone’s yearning for a Gangster role, and in no time, Sheridan churned out a pilot script, initially titled ‘Kansas City King’.
Sprucing up ideas and spinning them into fantastic storylines is second nature for Taylor Sheridan. So, the speed at which he readied the script comes as no surprise. In a short time, Stallone got an insight into the ‘Kansas City King’ idea and was immediately hooked. Alongside Stallone, Terence Winter, the Emmy-award winning showrunner of ‘Boardwalk Empire’, joined the team.
The Birth of Tulsa King
As the plot evolved, the stereotypical strong-arm mob character initially planned wasn’t fitting in too well. Both Stallone and Winter desired a character with more depth than the typical mafia guy with a strong-arm. A shift from mob cliches towards a more Western feel seemed more fitting and hence began the transition from Kansas City King to ‘Tulsa King’.
Winter felt Kansas City was a bit too metropolitan and mob-like for the unique blend of gangster and Western vibe they aimed to achieve. That’s when Oklahoma popped into his mind! It was remote enough to achieve the balanced blend they sought and fit perfectly for Stallone’s character’s backdrop.
The Creative Process
Creating the ‘Tulsa King’ was not all smooth sailing. The creative minds of Stallone and Sheridan often clashed. Known for his hands-on approach, Stallone liked to tweak projects a bit, while Sheridan preferred sticking to the final script. However, they finally struck a balance, and ‘Tulsa King’ was born.
The filming for Season 2 is currently underway in Oklahoma and Atlanta. The series seems ripe with promise, especially considering the friendly rivalry looming between Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger with his recent TV show, ‘The Continental’.
A Sneak Peek into Season 2
In a thrilling turn of events, Season 2 reintroduces Dwight “The General” Manfredi just as quickly as he exited in the first season. Intense competition unfolds as newcomer characters like Kansas City mobster Bill Bevilaqua, played by Frank Grillo, and local businessman Cal Thresher, enacted by Neal McDonough, step in.
As we eagerly wait for Season 2 to unravel, one thing’s for sure: Stallone’s rendition of a western-style gangster in Tulsa will be a spectacle to behold!
