Dwight Manfredi’s Return: Tulsa King Season 3 Lands September 21
Sylvester Stallone may be approaching 80, but he isn’t slowing down on screen. Paramount+ confirmed that Tulsa King season 3 will premiere on September 21, 2025, with a sharper, darker storyline that expands the criminal empire of Dwight Manfredi. The trailer hints at Manfredi venturing into legitimate business running a distillery only to find new enemies in unexpected corners. Robert Patrick joins as Jeremiah Dunmire, a ruthless rival, while Samuel L. Jackson makes a headline grabbing entrance as Russell Lee Washington Jr., a character strong enough to anchor his own spinoff series titled NOLA King.
What makes this season different is the balance between Dwight’s violent survival instincts and his attempt to evolve into a businessman. Showrunners have teased that the third season dives into the political underbelly of Tulsa, where organized crime meets big money interests. For Stallone, who has long balanced muscle with charisma, it’s a chance to show yet another side of his screen presence. The addition of Jackson also signals Paramount’s ambition to turn the series into a larger franchise, mirroring the interconnected worlds seen in other hit TV universes.
A Glimpse Back: The Making of Rocky Gets Its Own Story
While Stallone continues to headline new projects, Hollywood is also looking backward at how his legend began. Amazon MGM has greenlit I Play Rocky, a biopic that dramatizes the making of the 1976 classic Rocky. The story is not about the boxing matches that made Rocky Balboa a cultural icon but about Stallone himself—then an unknown actor—writing the script, refusing to sell it without playing the lead, and ultimately transforming his career against all odds.
Anthony Ippolito, known for portraying Al Pacino in The Offer, takes on the role of a young Stallone. His casting wasn’t a studio arrangement but the result of an unsolicited audition tape that caught the producers’ attention. Director Peter Farrelly, who is best known for Green Book, has promised a character-driven story that explores the desperation and determination behind one of cinema’s greatest underdog tales. The film aims for a theatrical release, underscoring the belief that audiences will embrace a story about grit, sacrifice, and the making of a cultural phenomenon.
Rambo Origins: A Younger Face in a Darker War
As if that weren’t enough, another project looms: a Rambo prequel set during the Vietnam War. While Stallone will not reprise his role, the film intends to chart John Rambo’s journey before First Blood. Insiders suggest it will highlight the psychological toll of combat and the isolation of soldiers returning home, themes that Stallone first brought to life in 1982. Though casting has yet to be officially confirmed, reports indicate that a younger actor will step into the role to carry the franchise into a new era. Stallone is said to be involved as a consultant, ensuring the authenticity of the character he created.
The move reflects Hollywood’s broader trend of revisiting iconic characters with new faces while keeping the original creators tied to the project. If executed well, it could not only reignite interest in the Rambo series but also serve as a poignant reminder of its roots in post-Vietnam trauma rather than just action spectacle.
What These Projects Mean for Stallone’s Legacy
For Stallone, the overlap of these projects Tulsa King season 3, the Rocky biopic, and the Rambo prequel creates a rare moment of cultural visibility. Few actors have managed to stay relevant across five decades, and Stallone seems intent on making sure his influence reaches both old fans and new audiences.
- Continuity and reinvention: Tulsa King confirms Stallone’s ongoing relevance, proving he can anchor a streaming-era drama with the same authority he once brought to the big screen.
- Legacy revisited: I Play Rocky is more than nostalgia; it offers insight into the persistence that made Stallone a household name.
- Cross-generational appeal: With Anthony Ippolito as young Stallone and a new actor poised to play Rambo, the legend is being passed down while the original remains in the spotlight.
- Expansion of franchises: Samuel L. Jackson’s entry into Tulsa King hints at a growing TV universe, potentially cementing Stallone as the founder of yet another pop-culture dynasty.
Looking Ahead
The months ahead could reshape how audiences view Stallone. On one side, Tulsa King promises an adrenaline-fueled return with fresh conflicts and spinoff potential. On the other, I Play Rocky revisits the scrappy determination that built his career. Add in the Vietnam-era Rambo prequel, and Stallone stands both as a working actor and as the mythic figure whose characters continue to inspire new interpretations.
It’s rare for an actor to dominate headlines with both present-day projects and stories about their past. Stallone, true to form, seems to be fighting on all fronts still the crime boss, still the underdog, and still the soldier haunted by war. Whether on screen as Dwight Manfredi or in spirit as the young man who once wrote Rocky in a small apartment, Stallone’s next chapter looks as compelling as any that came before.
