'Tulsa King' Season 3 first look unveils 'darkest season yet' of Stallone crime drama
Transplanted New York mobster Dwight "The General" Manfredi (Sylvester Stallone) shared a moment of peace and joy with his rag-tag crew of misfit Oklahoma mobsters in the "Tulsa King" Season 2 finale.
That happy instance passed quickly in "Yellowstone" creator Taylor Sheridan's Paramount+ fish-out-of-water mob series. Season 3 kicks off on Sept. 21 with fights exploding and movie icon Samuel L. Jackson joining TV's oddball Manfredi crime family.
The new season will herald crime world territory expansion and growing pains, according to Garrett Hedlund, who stars as Manfredi's right-hand man, Mitch "The Stick" Keller.
"We're keeping the stakes high," Hedlund tells Paste BN, unveiling the exclusive first look at "Tulsa King" Season 3. "At the end of the day, most of these guys are – or have been, or will be – killers. That makes for interesting drama. And this is our darkest season yet."
'Tulsa King' teaser trailer features Manfredi's new enemies
Paramount+ dropped the first "Tulsa King" Season 3 teaser trailer on Aug. 6 featuring Manfredi discussing the distillery business and vowing, "We've got to know the enemy" during a shot of Jeremiah Dunmire (Patrick).
"If you think you're going to take me out, it's going to be really difficult," Manfredi tells Dunmire in another scene.
'Tulsa King' Season 3 cast squares up
The dread – and a spectacular gun-toting stand-off – are propelled by the new deadly rivals to Manfredi's growing Tulsa-centered crime network. Ruthless liquor mogul, Jeremiah Dunmire (Robert Patrick), and his erratic, privileged son, Cole Dunmire (Beau Knapp), will fight the Manfredi clan over the rights to a profitable local distillery in a primary Season 3 storyline.
Patrick, who villainously squared off against Stallone in 1997's "Copland" nearly three decades ago, "brings a command and authority that hasn't been seen in a 'Tulsa King' nemesis," Hedlund says. "It's funny watching Patrick play a very bad man with such control of his darkness."
Samuel L. Jackson will star in 'Tulsa King' and 'NOLA King' spinoff
Jackson, 76, takes on his first TV series along with his first role beside Stallone, 79, a fellow big-screen icon. The star duo's "Tulsa King' characters have a long, interwoven history.
Jackson plays Russell Lee Washington Jr., who spent hard time with Manfredi in prison. Washington is initially hired to kill his old friend, but instead is inspired to start his Manfredi-style empire in his New Orleans hometown, which will be depicted in the upcoming spinoff "NOLA King."
"Samuel L. Jackson is a gift to the series," Hedlund says. "He and Sly (Stallone) radiate as men who are absolutely genuine, but who are not to be messed with. And this season will give a taste of what (Jackson) is going to do in 'NOLA King.' "
Mixing business and pleasure in explosive relationship
Former rodeo star Mitch loses his loner status in Season 3 when he meets up with old flame and Tulsa native Cleo Montague (Bella Heathcote). Cleo is also a business partner, as her father owns the distillery prized by Manfredi's crew and competitors.
The business and the relationship are explosive for Mitch and Cleo.
"If you've ever heard the phrase 'It takes two to toxic,' well, get ready," says Hedlund of the screen couple. The actor calls back to his 2012 "On the Road" role, in the film adaptation of Jack Kerouac's famed novel, to describe Mitch's renewed "Tulsa King" love. "This relationship epitomizes what Kerouac meant when he wrote, 'The only ones for me are the mad ones.' "
Manfredi has to deal with Special Agent Musso
At the end of Season 2, Manfredi is hauled by a gun-wielding tactical team from the high-thread-count-sheeted bed he shares with his wealthy equestrian girlfriend Margaret (Dana Delany). The unhooded Manfredi meets his mysterious new government minder, who is revealed in Season 3 to be FBI Special Agent Musso (Kevin Pollak).
Stallone told Paste BN in November that the forced relationship between Manfredi and the government would be mutually beneficial. "I'm not going to snitch," Stallone said of his loyal character. "But if I have to do some deeds to people that deserve it, I'm going to."
Manfredi's fed contacts will come in handy when dealing with returning Season 2 villains – steely Tulsa businessman Cal Thresher (Neal McDonough) and often-unhinged Kansas City mob boss Bill Bevilaqua (Frank Grillo). Bevilaqua joins forces with Manfredi, at least outwardly, and Grillo stood behind Stallone during the gun-drawn show of force at the disputed distillery.
"Sometimes to take over the whole world, two kings have to come together," Hedlund says. "That meeting is the spine of the whole season."
When is 'Tulsa King' Season 3 coming out?
The upcoming season is set to stream on Sept. 21 on Paramount+.