After much anticipation, Paramount has announced the return date for popular crime drama Tulsa King, according to a statement made earlier this week by Deadline’s Lynette Rice. The series, which stars Sylvester Stallone (Rocky, Spy Kids 3: Game Over) as Dwight Manfredi, a Mafia capo who relocates to the American South to expand his empire of organized crime after a stint in prison, will premiere the first episode of season three on September 21st on Paramount+.
Each season of Tulsa King pits Manfedi and his ever-changing roster of employees against a different rival organization. In season one, it was biker gang The Black Macadems; in season two, it was Bill Bevilaqua and the Kansas City mob. Via Deadline’s statement, season three will see Manfredi face off against the Dunmires, “a powerful old-money clan that doesn’t play by old-world rules.” While the full extent of the Dunmires’ reach is unclear, Paramount has previously disclosed that Robert Patrick (1923, The X-Files) and Beau Knapp (The Signal, American Skin) will both play members of the family.
In addition to continuing Manfredi’s story, season three will also tee up the upcoming spinoff NOLA King. NOLA will star Samuel L. Jackson (Pulp Fiction, Django Unchained) as Russell Lee Washington. Jr, a prison friend of Stallone’s character who will move to New Orleans after his appearance in season three of Tulsa King, reported via Deadline. The release date for NOLA is unknown, but production is expected to begin in February of next year, according to TVInsider.
It’s easy to understand Paramount’s interest in expanding the Tulsa King franchise after the series was reportedly the streamer’s most popular original series in 2024, with season two garnering more than twenty million viewers for its premiere episode (via Deadline). As such, it seems unlikely that Manfredi’s foothold on Tulsa — or on audiences — will be loosening any time soon, which might be the company’s saving grace after a particularly stressful year.
Additional information, including stills from the new season, are available here. Seasons one and two of Tulsa King are streaming now on Paramount+.
