Sylvester Stallone revealed that he felt a mix of excitement and nervousness when he discovered Samuel L. Jackson would be joining the cast of Sylvester Stallone Tulsa King. The anticipation stemmed from knowing he would be acting opposite a formidable talent, which heightened the stakes of their on-screen interactions.
Stallone’s Initial Reaction to Acting Alongside Jackson
Stallone compared their meeting to two fighters preparing to enter a boxing ring.
“When I heard that was going to happen, I went, ‘Oh, this is going to be a fistfight. This is going to be a battle,’”
he stated, emphasizing the competitive tension. He added,
“So you are getting nervous because you are dealing with serious competition,”
reflecting the natural intensity of working beside a respected actor like Jackson.
On-Set Chemistry and Collaboration
Once filming started, Stallone’s nerves quickly faded as the two actors found a strong rhythm together. He described their teamwork:
“We are good; we are flowing. We just worked that well together.”
Stallone even lightheartedly suggested the idea of a spin-off series starring both of them titled Tulsa King and Buddy, underscoring their camaraderie off-camera.
Jackson’s Role and Impact on Tulsa King
Samuel L. Jackson joined the show in its third season to portray Russell Lee Washington Jr., an ex-con assigned to eliminate Stallone’s character, mafia capo Dwight “The General” Manfredi. Stallone praised Jackson’s commanding presence, highlighting his “relaxed confidence” and the on-screen “pops” that come from years of experience. He likened their dynamic to a heavyweight boxing match, where each actor brings significant power to their roles.
Upcoming Spin-Off and Series Expansion
Jackson is slated to lead a spin-off titled NOLA King, which will follow his character’s efforts to build a criminal empire in Louisiana. Meanwhile, Tulsa King Season 3 is available on Paramount+, featuring Stallone’s daughter Scarlet in a larger role along with new additions Kevin Pollak and Dana Delaney. With the series already renewed for a fourth season, both Stallone and Jackson’s characters have ample opportunity to deepen their rivalry.
Stallone Reflects on His Career and Legacy
Looking back on his long journey in Hollywood, Stallone spoke candidly about perseverance.
“You are just trying to survive. You’re not really aware of the chaos it’s all enveloped in. I told myself, ‘You’re probably not going to make it. But I don’t want to have any damn regrets. You give this decision 100%, not 99%,’”
he shared. Approaching eighty years old, Stallone expressed pride in his career, saying,
“When you lay back and you’re looking [at your life], you just say, ‘Dear Lord, I tried my best. I didn’t hold back anything. So that’s really what my legacy is: that I didn’t quit.’”
