How to Get Cast on ‘Tulsa King’

After 25 years in prison, New York mobster Dwight “The General” Manfredi (Stallone) gets a new lease on life—until he finds he’s been exiled to Tulsa, Oklahoma. Dwight’s old boss sends him south with the intent to establish his own arm of the crime syndicate; but, feeling slighted by his former family, Dwight ultimately turns independent, creating his own crew who carry out his legal (and not-so-legal) operations. 

As Dwight gains his footing, however, repairing his tarnished reputation isn’t the only thing that needs attention. He’s also determined to repair his relationship with his daughter, Tina (Tatiana Zappardino), and sister, Joanne (Annabella Sciorra). But Dwight’s mounting list of enemies—and the inquisitive eye of ATF’s Stacey Beale (Andrea Savage)—just might derail the up-and-coming kingpin’s goals for the future.

Seasons 1 and 2 of “Tulsa King” featured an array of players, including numerous Hollywood veterans:

• Sylvester Stallone as Dwight “The General” Manfredi
• Andrea Savage as Stacy Beale
• Martin Starr as Lawrence “Bodhi” Geigerman
• Jay Will as Tyson Mitchell
• Max Casella as Armand “Manny” Truisi
• Domenick Lombardozzi as Charles “Chickie” Invernizzi
• Vincent Piazza as Vince Antonacci
• A.C. Peterson as Pete “The Rock” Invernizzi
• Garrett Hedlund as “Mitch the Stick” Keller
• Dana Delany as Margaret Devereaux
• Tatiana Zappardino as Tina Manfredi-Grieger
• Annabella Sciorra as Joanne Manfredi
• Neal McDonough as Cal Thresher
• Frank Grillo as Bill Bevilaqua
• Chris Caldovino as Dennis “Goodie” Carangi
• McKenna Quigley Harrington as Grace
• Mike “Ca$h Flo” Walden as Michael “Bigfoot”
• Scarlet Rose Stallone as Spencer
• Guy Nardulli as Johnny the Zip
• Rich Ting as Jackie Ming

Robert Patrick (“1923”), Beau Knapp (“SEAL Team”), and Bella Heathcote (“Dark Shadows) are joining Season 3 as series regulars. And as Sheridan prepares to expand the “Tulsa King” footprint with “NOLA King,” Samuel L. Jackson will guest star on multiple episodes as Dwight’s prison friend Russell Lee Washington Jr., who gathers inspiration from his fellow ex-con and sets off to start his own reign in New Orleans.

Wendy O’Brien (“Abbott Elementary”) and Meredith Tucker (“The White Lotus”) are the main CDs behind “Tulsa King.”

O’Brien told us there’s no need to feel unwelcome or uncomfortable in her audition room. “It’s a very safe space to try something, to explore, to be yourself. That’s our No. 1 goal of what we try and provide,” she explained. “I think it’s important to help [actors] come in, be comfortable, and do the best work they can. It’s also self-serving. The better they do, the sooner we’re going to find the role.”

If you find yourself in O’Brien’s audition room, she advised, “Be prepared. It seems obvious, but you would be shocked.” 

She also wants actors to bring their own take on the given role. “It may not be right for that role, but [CDs] get a sense of who that person is or what’s unique about them, and it sets them apart from everyone else. And not making the choice for the sake of being different, but making a choice that feels really right for who you are, not what you think we want to see. Sometimes those are the most interesting auditions. Sometimes writers completely will change a role because they’re just so inspired by a choice,” she said. “That’s the best part of our job. Why does it have to be 10 40-year-old white guys? It doesn’t. Why is this written as a man? Why is this written an able-bodied human? Does it have to be? Maybe not. And I think that’s one of the great gifts of what we do.”

Beyond all else, O’Brien implores actors to listen. “Listen to the person reading with you. Hear the other words. Hear the director saying, ‘No, that’s great. You don’t need to do it again.’ Listen. Hear. Hear what’s being spoken,” she explained. “I’m sure it can be like a tunnel when you walk in there, and it’s just a blur. But just listen. Listen to the social cues. Listen to the words that are being said to you, whether it’s other roles being read or a director or a producer. Just listen. Care.”

After all, if you’ve made it into the room, you’re meant to be there, so don’t second guess your presence. Instead, fully embrace the opportunity. “You might not think you’re right for the role. And this has happened so many times where an agent doesn’t think [their client is] right. I’m like, ‘I get they’re not what’s written on the page, but trust me, and just have them come in.’ And I would say 50% of the time, they get the role. They’re my wild card. Just come in. Don’t worry about it. You’re the wild card. It doesn’t make sense to them. Trust me. And a lot of times it works out really well,” she noted.

“Do not overthink your invitation. Usually, there’s a very good reason,” O’Brien continued. “It’s our job to open the door, and it’s the actors’ to want to walk through it. So just because we provide an audition, it also doesn’t mean that they have to come in or they’re obligated to come in. They can have a sense of what’s right for them. On one level, if it’s because they just don’t like the roles, they should never worry about that. That’s their choice. But if it’s because they just don’t think they’re right for it or that they’re creatively not sure, that’s where I think they need to trust. Sometimes you’re just waiting for the right role. Sometimes it takes a really long time to find that right role. But then when it happens, it’s pretty magical.”

On July 1, Stallone posted a video to Instagram announcing that Season 3 of “Tulsa King” had wrapped. While he gushed about the cast and crew, Stallone also wrote that Season 4 will begin filming “very soon” and expressed his hopes for a potential Season 5. Stay tuned for production news, as we will continue to update this piece as more info comes out.

There aren’t any active casting calls for “Tulsa King” Season 4 at this time, but the show has issued calls for background actors in the past. Earlier this year, CDs sought actors with visible arm tattoos who were local to the Atlanta area. 

For those who want to keep an eye out for other such opportunities, bookmark our casting directory page featuring the latest calls in or around Atlanta and Oklahoma City. We suggest bookmarking our main casting page for access to the newest listings as they become available, too. As you ready yourself for an opportunity to join Sheridan’s lineup, check out our guide on how to audition for Paramount+.

Waiting for the right role to come along won’t prepare you for when the time comes. As both O’Brien and Tucker advised, actors should keep working on their craft even during such lulls. “Just because you’re not shooting a role, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be training. And that doesn’t mean spending money to go to a class if you don’t have those means,” O’Brien said. “It can be running the scenes. It’s staying in shape. An athlete can’t race without doing their training. You can’t expect your body to perform. So I think it’s the same, to be ready when you do get that call for an audition and you have that day on set. That you’re actually ready and prepared, because it’s an ongoing preparation.”

“It’s always hard to get your foot in the door, but I think the thing that’s kind of great now is that there are so many means to make your own product if you have a digital camera. If you aren’t getting those jobs, I think writing stuff for yourself or working with friends to make your own product is always a great way A) to keep yourself busy and B) to have something to show people,” Tucker added. “It’s a great way just to get to act and write and produce and be a part of something. I think that’s the exciting thing now—that it’s so easy to do stuff like that. People should definitely take advantage of it.

“But also, sending your self-submissions is always great, keeping your eyes open for nonunion stuff on Backstage. Always keep your eyes open for stuff like that and be willing just to get experience on a set,” she continued. “Also, if you have the opportunity to see other aspects of the casting process—we’ve had interns who have ultimately wanted to be actors, but it’s kind of great to see how the whole process works. Take advantage of stuff like that. Some people need readers. It gives the actor a really great insight into the whole casting process.”

Delany (Margaret Devereaux) echoed this sentiment, telling young actors that they are their own greatest allies. “Find a community you like working with and create your own stuff. Don’t rely on people outside you to do it,” Delany said in an interview on a fan website. “If you can find a group of like-minded people, just start making your own films, putting on your own plays. Then you will find your voice and what interests you, and you’ll be self-motivated and empowered.”

Once you do land that dream role, take this piece of advice from Stallone to heart, as the “Rocky” star wants young actors to do what he didn’t when he got his big break. “It was overwhelming, and I don’t think I was mature enough at this time to really understand and fully enjoy the moment,” he told Deadline. “I tell young actors: ‘Please, really focus on this moment. Take a mental picture of it, and keep that film in your mind, because it comes maybe once in your lifetime.’ ”