As a long-time fan of crime dramas and Sylvester Stallone’s work, I was absolutely thrilled when I stumbled upon Tulsa King on Paramount+. The show is a masterpiece that seamlessly blends real-life mob stories with a touch of Taylor Sheridan’s genius storytelling.
Over a remarkable 50-year career, Sylvester Stallone has become one of Hollywood’s most iconic leading actors, gracing the screens in numerous action masterpieces such as Rocky, Rambo, Demolition Man, and the thrilling Expendables series. With an impressive filmography, it was inevitable that Stallone would step into television, skillfully achieving this with the creative guidance of Taylor Sheridan.
In unison, the powerful pair worked on the 2022 crime comedy-drama series titled “Tulsa King,” where Sylvester Stallone assumes the role of a Mafia boss who, following a 25-year prison term, is relocated from New York City to Tulsa, Oklahoma. In this new setting, he chooses to transform lemons into lemonade by establishing his own domain. The critically acclaimed streaming sensation is now in its second season and has received accolades for Stallone’s captivating portrayal, as well as the numerous intriguing plot twists it offers. It has generated considerable buzz among viewers, making “Tulsa King” one of Paramount+’s most anticipated shows. With audiences eager to uncover truth from fiction regarding “Tulsa King,” let’s delve into which real-life Mafia family served as the inspiration for this popular series.
Sylvester Stallone’s Compelling Crime Drama
Legendary action star Sylvester Stallone collaborated with renowned TV producer Taylor Sheridan to develop the intense original crime series “Tulsa King.” In this show, Stallone portrays Dwight “The General” Manfredi, a high-ranking Mafia boss from New York City who, following a 25-year prison sentence for murder, is instructed to relocate to the city of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Despite serving his time and maintaining silence about his crime boss and the powerful Invernizzi family, Manfredi finds himself exiled due to limited opportunities in New York, much to his frustration.
In an effort to adapt to life beyond bars and in a strange land where he lacks connections, Manfredi embarks on building his own empire and enlists a motley crew to expand his business. This band of oddballs includes marijuana dealer Lawrence “Bodhi” Geigerman (Martin Starr), bar owner Mitch Keller (Garrett Hedlund), and personal driver Tyson Mitchell (Jay Will). Matters become even more challenging for Manfredi as he finds himself under the scrutiny of ATF agent Stacy Beale (Andrea Savage), with whom he harbors complex romantic sentiments, and the constant menace posed by the Invernizzi clan.
The Real-Life Mafia Inspiration Behind Tulsa King
Drawing inspiration from Sicily’s brutal and violent mafia history, I found myself deeply connected to the world portrayed in Tulsa King. Particularly, it seemed to echo the tale of the Inzerillo crime family, known as the “aristocracy” within Palermo’s underworld, who rose to prominence in the 1950s. Much like my character Dwight Manfredi, the Inzerillos were compelled to leave their city during the tumultuous conflict that unfolded between 1981 and 1983. As mobster Salvatore Riina gained power and asserted control over Palermo’s streets, the Inzerillos found themselves outmaneuvered in the relentless battle for supremacy.
Following Salvatore Inzerillo’s gruesome assassination during the Second Mafia War in 1981, his surviving relatives, including cousins Francesco and Tommaso, were forced into a voluntary exile in New York due to the danger. They found refuge and assistance from their allies, the Gambino crime family. As tensions grew, the Sicilian Mafia Commission chose to forgive the Inzerillo clan under the proviso they would never return to Sicily. However, this pact was eventually breached when they came back to Italy in the early 2000s, following a 20-year absence.
In Tulsa King, I find myself in a similar situation as portrayed by the protagonist, Manfredi. He’s been banished from New York to Oklahoma, and it seems clear that his presence is not appreciated back home. The underboss of the Invernizzi family, Chickie, even warns him bluntly, “There’s nothing for you here.” This tough series hints at Manfredi being past his prime, no longer valuable to his crime family despite remaining steadfast to their stringent code of honor. This mirrors the reality faced by many mobsters who return home after serving long prison sentences and find they are no longer needed or respected.
In addition to the resemblances between Manfredi’s storyline and that of the Inzerillos, Tulsa King also draws heavily from real-world events. After his release from prison, Manfredi is under constant scrutiny by authorities, a common practice when high-profile Mafia associates regain their freedom following incarceration. While there are parallels between Manfredi and the infamous Sicilian crime family, Tulsa King stands independently as its own unique creation, born from the creative mind of Taylor Sheridan.
A Certified Streaming Sensation
worldwide audiences are captivated by Stallone’s portrayal of a tough, durable mob boss and his diverse crew in Tulsa King. This popular TV series, which features Sylvester Stallone’s first leading role in a scripted television program, has already entered its second season, with plans for a third installment and spin-off underway. When it premiered on November 13, 2022, the crime drama was cable’s most-watched series debut of the year, drawing in 3.7 million viewers and accumulating a total of 3.36 billion minutes watched.
The second season of Tulsa King was equally successful among viewers, with its debut episode being watched by approximately two million people within the first day and garnering viewership from 5.4 million households during its first week. This impressive performance broke records on Paramount+ and solidified its status as essential viewing. Critics have also shown enthusiasm towards Tulsa King, as its initial season earned a commendable 79% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Notably, the much-awaited second season currently boasts a perfect 100% rating on the popular review aggregation site.
Stallone’s impressive acting in this show is its most compelling aspect and has been widely praised as one of his best performances in recent times. In fact, the London Evening Star raved about it in their glowing review, saying that Stallone, “is operating at maximum capacity, demonstrating a colossal, bright, charming appeal even when he’s delivering knockout blows, a kind of charisma that time seems to have overlooked, yet Sylvester hasn’t.
Stream Tulsa King on Paramount+.
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2024-10-13 03:01