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Sylvester Stallone made his scripted TV debut with Taylor Sheridan’s comedy and crime dramaTulsa King. The show, premiering in 2022, the show recently returned with Season 2 and continues the story of Dwight ‘The General’ Manfredi’s story. WhileTulsa Kingmight seem like it’s based on real events, that’s not entirely the case.
Sheridan’s drama follows a New York mafia capo, released from prison after 25 years, who is sent to build a new criminal empire in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Though not directly based on a true story, it appears closely inspired on one of the bloodiest periods in Sicilian mafia history with Dwight’s exile to Tulsa and his pursuit of a new criminal empire closely sharing some similarities with the Inzerillo crime family.
Tulsa King: Crime Drama Rooted in Real Mafia History
While not directly based on true stories, Taylor Sheridan’s comedy-crime drama, markingSylvester Stallone’sscripted television debut, does share some similarities with what has been described as one of the bloodiest periods in Sicilian mafia history.
The show follows Dwight Manfredi, a capo of the fictional Invernizzi family, who, after serving 25 years in prison for murder, is sent to Tulsa, Oklahoma, to build a new criminal empire. Though not a direct adaptation, Manfredi’s story mirrors the fate of the real-life Inzerillo crime family of Palermo, Italy, particularly their exile and pursuit of rebuilding a criminal empire.
In the 1980s, while the Gambino crime family dominated New York, Palermo was under the brutal rule of Salvatore Riina, who was held responsible for countless murders. The bloody conflict also led to the banishment of the Inzerillo family from Palermo, forcing them to seek refuge in New York, under the protection of the Gambino family.
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Although the series takes creative liberties, some of the events in Tulsa King are said to echo real-world mafia violence—events even more brutal than those depicted in classic mob films likeThe GodfatherorGoodfellas. While the show loosely reflects how the Inzerillo family was exiled from their home and had to survive under the Gambino family’s control in New York,Tulsa Kingfocuses on Dwight Manfredi rather than following the family directly.
What Happened to the Inzerillo Mafia Family of Palermo?
The Inzerillo Mafia family, founded by Salvatore ‘Totuccio’ Inzerillo in the 1950s, was a powerful Palermo-based clan involved in large-scale drug trafficking. As perCBS News, the crime family lost its power after a bloody war for control of the Sicilian mafia against Salvatore Riina, known as the Boss of Bosses.
Riina brought an end to the Inzerillo crime family in 1981 by ordering the murder of Salvatore Inzerillo. The surviving members, including cousins Tommaso and Francesco Inzerillo, fled to the United States in self-imposed exile.
The Gambinos, who were closely connected to the Inzerillos, helped them during their exile with the support of Francesco ‘Franky Boy’ Cali. A police statement later revealed the strong ties between the Inzerillo film and the Gambinos, saying,
The investigation, dubbed ‘New Connection’, has registered the strong bond established between Cosa Nostra (Sicilian mafia) of Palermo and U.S. organized crime, with particular reference to the powerful Gambino crime family of New York.
InTulsa King, however, the narrative flips these events. Instead of being exiled from Sicily to New York, the show’s protagonist, a New York capo, is banished to Tulsa. While it’s not explicitly stated that he’s unwelcome in New York, it is firmly implied in the narrative.
Tulsa KingDoes Follow Upon Some Realistic Elements
While it’s clear that the show is not based on a true story, since no real New York mobster was ever exiled to Tulsa to establish a new criminal empire,Tulsa Kingincorporates realistic approach to some of the elements.
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Similar to other crime dramas inspired by true events, the show’s portrayal of Dwight being monitored by the police reflects a common reality. After his release from prison, Dwight’s every move is closely watched by authorities, even in Oklahoma, which mirrors the standard procedure for known mafia members upon release.
How Taylor Sheridan Came Up withTulsa King?
Taylor Sheridan, the creator behind hit series likeYellowstoneandMayor of Kingstown, came up with the idea forTulsa Kingwithin a day. As perThe Hollywood Reporter, David Glasser revealed that Sheridan wrote the first draft of the show’s pilot in one day, after he learned that Stallone had wanted to play a gangster.
Taylor starts to spitball the idea of a fish out of water story for an hour — Then, Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m., he goes, ‘Check your inbox.’ There is a script he’s already written called Kansas City King and it’s incredible.
The script was so impressive that they soon pitched it to Stallone, who agreed to star, with Terence Winter brought on as the showrunner. Winter later shared how he reshaped Sheridan’s original concept of the show. In an interview withDeadline, he shared,
In his version our character Dwight was a 75-year-old kind of low-level bag man in the mob. He had never been to prison, he didn’t have a family and he got sent out to Kansas City as a reward for a lifetime of service.
However, Winter decided to enhance the character’s depth by changing Dwight’s backstory, making him a man who had spent 25 years in prison, expecting a reward but instead being sent to Tulsa by the boss’s son. He shared,
And I felt it would be more powerful if he had spent the last 25 years in jail and he’s fully expecting to be rewarded. Instead he gets sent by the boss’ son to Tulsa.
Winter also chose Tulsa over Kansas City as the setting, as it felt more remote and unfamiliar for a mafia figure, making the narrative more intriguing. Since the show was primarily inspired by Stallone’s desire to play a gangster, it’s clear thatTulsa Kingis not based on a true story but is instead an original creation tailored to the actor’s ambitions.
What Happened to Dwight ‘The General’ Manfredi inTulsa King?
Tulsa Kingfollows Dwight Manfrendi, aka The General, who is released from prison after serving a 25 years sentence for taking the fall for a murder committed by his former boss’s son, Don Charles Invernizzi, aka Chickie.
However, despite his loyalty once out of the prison he is ordered to move to Tulsa, Oklahoma as the Invernizzi crime family had no future prospects for him in New York. Furious by his banishment, he relocates to Tulsa and begins to carve out a criminal presence.
During this time he also faces scrutiny from the FBI, particularly ATF agent Stacy Beale, and getting caught up in conflicts with local gangs. Season 1 also follows Dwight grappling with threats from both the rival gangs and the Invernizzi family after he renounces his loyalty to the Invernizzi family with the aim to establish his own Manfredi family.
He eventually opens a casino by the end of season 1 before being arrested by Stacy. Four episodes of Season 2 have been release so far, showcasing Dwight as he secures bail and confronts Cal Thresher, a major player in the medical marijuana market. With new rivals emerging and tensions escalating, the season follows Dwight’s quest to expand his influence in the increasingly perilous landscape of Tulsa.
Tulsa KingSeason 2 Release Schedule
Created byTaylor Sheridan,Tulsa Kingachieved significant success in its inaugural season, garnering 3.36 billion minutes of viewership and making it the fourth-most-streamed of all of Sheridan’s shows on Paramount+, as perThe Hollywood Reporter.
The anticipation for Season 2 was palpable, with the premiere engaging 5.4 million households within its first week, 2 million of which tuned in on premiere day alone, as perDeadline.
Tulsa KingSeason 2brings back the original cast alongside the introduction of new formidable villains, including Neal McDonough, Frank Grillo, and Rich Ting as Cal Thresher, Bill Bevilaqua, and Jackie Ming, respectively.
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With a total of 10 episodes, Season 2 releases a new episode every Sunday on Paramount+. Fans of the show can follow upon what unfolds next as Dwight continues to expand his influence in Tulsa in episode 5, which is set to release on July 29, 2025.
Sylvster Stallone onTulsa King’sFuture
The show’s constant success has been marked by a highly celebrated and popular season 1, which is followed by a similar second season. And the star of the show Sylvester Stallone has recently confirmed that the show will continue for a third season, which is currently in development.
The Oscar-nominated actor recently announced the news onInstagram, expressing his gratitude to fans, critics, cast, and crew for contributing to the show’s remarkable success.
I am elated and so proud of our cast because our show has gone up 75% over last year which is unheard of, and Season 2 got 100% on ROTTEN TOMATOES ! Also it’s the Second most popular show in the WORLD across all streaming services! Thank you so much and we are working on the third season at this moment.
With more than half of the Season 2 still to air, fans have responded enthusiastically, eager to see how Dwight Manfredi’s reign in Tulsa unfolds as he embraces the title ofTulsa King. However, further details, including its release date, has not been disclosed yeat.
Tulsa Kingis available to watch on Paramount+.
Laxmi Rajput
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3449
Laxmi Rajput is a Senior Writer at FandomWire, with over 3,300 articles published covering film, TV, and pop culture. With a degree in Broadcast Journalism and over three years of experience in content writing, she pivoted to entertainment journalism because let’s be honest, superheroes, sitcoms, and Netflix binges are way more fun. Laxmi frequently covers Marvel, Harry Potter, Star Wars, and popular TV shows, offering both fan-first enthusiasm and thoughtful analysis. Her work often dives into Marvel theories, revisits the genius of The Big Bang Theory, or unpacks the Netflix phenomenon of Stranger Things.
