Tulsa King Season 2 Casts Yellowstone Alum As Sylvester Stallone’s Nemesis

Tulsa King season 2 has found a new start to play Sylvester Stallone’s nemesis in the series. Season 1 of Tulsa King debuted in 2022 to generally favorable reviews. Its plot focuses on the story of a Mafia man named Dwight who, after being released from prison, is exiled to Tulsa, Oklahoma. From there, Dwight builds up a new criminal empire with an unlikely group of people.

As per Variety, Tulsa King season 2 has now added a new cast member. Said cast member is Neal McDonough, playing the role of Cal Thresher. Cal Thresher is described as a powerful and territorial businessman in Tulsa. This character will go head-to-head with Stallone’s Dwight, creating some of the main tension for Tulsa King season 2.

Tulsa King’s Casting Has Been a Point of Contention

McDonough is a veteran actor, including his work in Yellowstone, wherein he played the role of Malcolm Beck in six episodes in 2019. Tulsa King thus represents another collaboration between McDonough and Taylor Sheriden, who served as the creator of both Yellowstone and Tulsa King. McDonough’s other notable television roles include parts on Band of Brothers, Desperate Housewives, Star Trek, American Horror Story, and Suits. He was previously nominated for a SAG award as part of the ensemble of Desperate Housewives.

McDonough is not the only new cast member to be joining the team for Tulsa King season 2. The show’s second season has also cast Frank Grillo as a character named Bill Bevilaqua. Bill is reportedly a mobster from Kansas City who has gotten interested in Tulsa. Between Bill Bevilaqua and Cal Thresher, Tulsa King’s ensemble just got even more interesting than that of the premiere season.

News of any casting in Tulsa King season 2 is significant to the series due to recent casting drama the show has faced. Last month, it was announced that the show’s casting agency, Rose Locke Casting, was quitting the series. The agency reported leaving Tulsa King due to Stallone and the team’s mistreatment and disparaging of background actors. Stallone and an unnamed director on the show reportedly referred to Tulsa King’s background performers as “ugly” and “tub of lard.”

Despite this casting controversy, it seems that Tulsa King is forging ahead with its production on season 2. McDonough and Grillo join a cast of characters that includes Andrea Savage, Martin Starr, Max Casella, Domenick Lombardozzi, Vincent Piazza, Jay Will, Annabella Sciorra, Tatiana Zappardino, Garrett Hedlund, and Dana Delany. This ensemble is sure to create an interesting group dynamic for the crime twists that unfold in Tulsa King season 2.

Source: Variety