Stallone's 'Tulsa King' Proves 70s Are the New 30s for Empire Builders

Sylvester Stallone, at 78, is back as Dwight "The General" Manfredi in "Tulsa King" Season 3, a testament to the enduring power of reinvention and ambition beyond traditional retirement age. The series, which sees Dwight expanding his criminal enterprise in Tulsa, directly confronts the stereotype that later life is a winding down period. Instead, it presents a compelling narrative of building anew, even as new adversaries like the powerful old-money Dunmire family emerge, threatening everything Dwight has constructed

"The official description for “Tulsa King” Season 3 states, “As Dwight’s (Stallone) empire expands, so do his enemies – and the risks to his crew. Now, he faces his most dangerous adversaries in Tulsa yet: the Dunmires, a powerful old-money family that doesn’t play by old-world rules, forcing Dwight to fight for everything he’s built and protect his family.”"

. This isn't just a comeback; it's a strategic empire-building play, demonstrating that the drive to create and command can be as potent in one's late 70s as it is in one's 30s. The series itself marks a significant career milestone for Stallone, being his first leading role in a scripted television format

"Season 3 of Tulsa King is set to see Dwight ‘The General’ Manfredi’s (Stallone) empire expanding after previous seasons saw the American Mafia member being released from prison in New York and arriving in Oklahoma to start up a new criminal organization. The series marks Stallone’s first leading role in a scripted television format."

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Season 3 of "Tulsa King" picks up with Dwight Manfredi's criminal empire in full expansion mode, a trajectory that inevitably invites greater challenges and more formidable foes

"The official description for “Tulsa King” Season 3 states, “As Dwight’s (Stallone) empire expands, so do his enemies – and the risks to his crew. Now, he faces his most dangerous adversaries in Tulsa yet: the Dunmires, a powerful old-money family that doesn’t play by old-world rules, forcing Dwight to fight for everything he’s built and protect his family.”"

. The series description explicitly states, "As Dwight’s (Stallone) empire expands, so do his enemies – and the risks to his crew."

"The official description for “Tulsa King” Season 3 states, “As Dwight’s (Stallone) empire expands, so do his enemies – and the risks to his crew. Now, he faces his most dangerous adversaries in Tulsa yet: the Dunmires, a powerful old-money family that doesn’t play by old-world rules, forcing Dwight to fight for everything he’s built and protect his family.”"

This season introduces the Dunmires, a powerful old-money family who operate outside conventional rules, forcing Dwight into a fight for survival and the protection of his burgeoning organization. This narrative arc highlights the strategic complexities of empire-building, where growth is not just about acquisition but also about defense against established powers. It's a stark reminder that in any competitive landscape, especially one as cutthroat as organized crime, scaling up means confronting escalating threats.

Sylvester Stallone's leading role in "Tulsa King" marks a significant departure and a strategic pivot in his career, representing his first foray as the lead in a scripted television series

"Season 3 of Tulsa King is set to see Dwight ‘The General’ Manfredi’s (Stallone) empire expanding after previous seasons saw the American Mafia member being released from prison in New York and arriving in Oklahoma to start up a new criminal organization. The series marks Stallone’s first leading role in a scripted television format."

. This move signals a recognition of television's current prestige and reach, allowing for deep character development and long-form storytelling that film often cannot accommodate. For an actor synonymous with iconic film roles, embracing television at this stage of his career underscores a commitment to evolving his craft and engaging with contemporary audiences. The series, created by Taylor Sheridan, also benefits from the proven talent behind shows like "Mayor of Kingstown," with Dave Erickson taking over as showrunner for Season 3, indicating a focus on quality production and narrative continuity

"The Hollywood Reporter has learned that Tulsa King season 3 is now in production, with filming taking place in Georgia and Oklahoma – and the series has a new showrunner! That showrunner is executive producer Dave Erickson, who also happens to be the showrunner on another series that was created by Tulsa King creator Taylor Sheridan, Mayor of Kingstown."

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The conventional narrative around aging often emphasizes retirement as a period of withdrawal and rest. However, "Tulsa King" actively subverts this trope, presenting Dwight Manfredi not as someone winding down, but as someone building up. At 78, Stallone embodies a character who, after being released from prison, has meticulously established a new criminal organization from the ground up in Oklahoma

"Season 3 of Tulsa King is set to see Dwight ‘The General’ Manfredi’s (Stallone) empire expanding after previous seasons saw the American Mafia member being released from prison in New York and arriving in Oklahoma to start up a new criminal organization. The series marks Stallone’s first leading role in a scripted television format."

. This journey of reinvention and active empire-building challenges the industry's tendency to pigeonhole older actors into limited roles. It suggests that ambition, strategic thinking, and the desire to create and lead are not confined by age, offering a powerful, aspirational model for viewers contemplating their own later years. The show’s success itself is a testament to the audience’s appetite for these stories.