Why Sylvester Stallone’s Big TV Role is the Character He Relates to the Most

Tulsa King Season 2 is set to hit Paramount+ next week, and ahead of the sophomore outing of Sylvester Stallone’s popular crime-drama, writer Terrance Howard is revealing how Sly first reacted to the character of Dwight “The General” Manfredi. Debuting in 2022, Tulsa King became an immediate hit for Paramount+ and creator Taylor Sheridan, who was able to land another bullseye following the success of some of his other shows such as Yellowstone, Mayor of Kingstown, and 1883.

Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, Howard relayed Stallone’s humorous reaction to Manfredi upon first reading the script for Tulsa King. While the 78-year-old legend has largely been perceived as someone who is muscle over mind thanks to characters like John Rambo and Rocky Balboa that have appeared in his various movies, nothing could be further from the truth. “I don’t think people even know that I can actually talk,” Stallone said, which is why Manfredi was such a breath of fresh air for the icon.

“The idea that he has these big monologues and chunks of comedy, it was really a pleasure for him. When he read the pilot, he said, ‘This fits me like a tailor-made suit. This is who I am in real life — if I were a mobster.’ So, that he’s comfortable with it and comfortable saying it makes me feel good as a writer. This is basically who he is, right?”

Unlike his past roles, Manfredi is a well-read, intelligent, and somewhat sophisticated character with a lot of life experience under his belt. Having spent 25 years in prison, he’s had the chance to educate himself in ways others might not, and he appreciates the finer things in life. He subverts the expectation that all convicts are tattooed monstrosities with a low IQ. However, that doesn’t mean he immediately fits into any situation. Manfredi has, after all, been away from society for more than two decades, and the world has moved on. Howard elaborates further, saying:

“Giving Dwight surprising knowledge or surprising dialogue is always fun. I think the audience really loves it. The other thing is seeing his character in situations that are familiar to the rest of us — like you never get to see a mob boss deal with the DMV, or have to wait in line at Starbucks. It’s fun to see him navigate the world that the rest of us have to navigate.”

Sylvester Stallone Comes Into His Own in Tulsa King Season 2

As with any new series, actors who might not be familiar with one another are tossed into the mix to hopefully create some magic. It takes time for them to get to know one another, which is why a show can sometimes take a couple of seasons to find its footing.

With Season 1 of Tulsa King firmly behind them, Howard says that this is where things will get interesting for the fans. Manfredi and his crew will face new challenges that will further expand upon their unique dynamic, something that will aid the audience, and Stallone, in getting even more comfortable with the characters.

“We got to know [in Season 1] all these different characters and set the table. Now this is where the fun starts. You can start building on those relationships, we can get into the backstories, and we see them develop and get faced with more challenges and conflicts. It’s always funny when you watch the original pilot for something and, clearly, the actors didn’t know each other. You watch the original pilot of
Happy Days
and Fonzie is wearing a windbreaker — he’s not Fonzie until like season three.”

With a resume that features a number of characters that have stood the test of time, it’s clear that Stallone is establishing Manfredi as someone to be remembered, not just for being a character who is cut from a different cloth than a Rocky or Rambo, but for showing the world that, yes, he can talk.