The Cast of ‘Tulsa King’ Discusses the Rhythm and Poetry of Season 3
There are some new faces, some members who are enjoying a larger role in the third season, and returning fan-favourites who all sit down with FilmSpeak to discuss the prose within the writing of the gangster saga.
For a show to succeed in these tumultuous television times filled with dozens of streaming platforms, continuous content and Taylor Sheridans, you have to be able to provide the discerning audiences with fresh new stories every season. Something to re-grab their attention and reinvigorate their passion for the show. Often, that means bringing in new characters.
Taylor Sheridan’s ‘Tulsa King’ has created a bit of a renaissance in this, its third season. No stranger to star power with the obvious inclusion of the iconic Sylvester Stallone as well as veteran performers such as Dana Delany, Annabella Sciorra, Frank Grillo and Garrett Hedlund rounding out the cast, Tulsa King has added a few new cogs to the already well-oiled machine. Most of the cast, old and new, sat down with FilmSpeak to discuss this third season, how those new pieces fit, and finding the rhythm that makes the show’s heart beat with a poetic intensity that fans have come to love.
“I love being a cog. I love jumping into a wildly successful, thriving universe that is Taylor Sheridan” reveals Kevin Pollak. The notorious funnyman and dramatic journeyman has joined the cast this season as Special Agent Musso, a thorn in Sylvester Stallone’s Dwight Mafredi’s side. Musso, for most of the season, has been pulling Manfredi’s strings, which naturally won’t last long with Manfredi’s slippery character, but the opportunity isn’t lost on Pollak. “To then share scenes with Sly is a fantasy beyond [measure]. I just don't even dream that big, and then for it to be as fun as it is, is a crazy time. So this is really a phenomenal opportunity that I love doing”.
Check out the full interviews with the cast, or continuing scrolling for the remainder of the article.
Pollak isn’t alone in terms of getting an opportunity within the show. While not a new cast member, fan-favorite Grace, played by McKenna Quigley Harrington has really stepped forward in terms of her role within Manfredi’s Tulsa empire. Harrington recognizes the duality of Grace’s role growing, as well as her acting role within the show. “I think the two have definitely happened at the same time. I was just talking about how this was truly my first job, and so when I first walked on set, everyone was so kind at helping me learn what that's like and what I needed to do and how to adjust my theater acting to the screen. [But] by season three, I think I'm more confident on set as an actor, and I think Grace has more responsibility. She's not just like working at a [Cannabis] Shop anymore. She has people to look after and things to do, and I'm really proud of her.”
Mike “Cash Flo” Walden, who plays ‘Bigfoot’, another fan favorite and the hired muscle in Manfredi’s ‘familia’, has also had an opportunity to come to the forefront a little more this third season. Walden is no rookie performer, as has been a professional wrestler for years, and has recognized how easy a transition this was.
“In wrestling, there really are no heels and baby faces. There are only situations.” Walden reveals. “Being on set and being able to understand what these situations are for this character, that makes it easier. There, there are a lot of parallels with wrestling and the film industry.”
Jay Will (left) as Tyson, Chris Caldovino (center) as Goodie and McKenna Quigley Harrington as Grace.
What many people may not realize, if not a fan of the performance aspect of professional wrestling, is these entertainers are often performing archetypal characters - villains, heroes and monsters forged long before, in the time of classical theatre fit for Greek tragedies. There’s a poetry to it. There’s a rhythm. There’s an easy answer as to why Walden can recognize what he needs to do for the show, and the simple reason is, when you’ve gone big in the squared-circle, you can certainly bring it smaller for television.
Fellow veteran performer (although not a wrestler to the best of this writer’s knowledge) Chris Caldovino has been around the block as well. Caldovino has been a part of some of the most star-studded ensembles in recent television history. Shows like Boardwalk Empire and The Sopranos has been his acting school. Drastically different than a wrestling ring, but it certainly has prepared him well.
”I understand the job I have there, and whether it's something funny or something violent or scary, I just try to put humanity into it and that sells it.” Caldovino, like Walden makes it sound so easy, which has perhaps been part of the charm of Tulsa King and why it keeps attracting viewers season after season. Then again, the action and mob-violence is arguably a big draw as well. “We do bad things on the show, but somehow we're likable.” Caldovino recognizes. “Antiheroes are throughout film history. They are desirable. People like to watch it. So as long as you put your humanity into it, I think it sells and it comes across.”
So what of that rhythm? Granted, the way Walden describes it, storytelling rhythm doesn’t change much regardless of you’re wearing the singlet of a wrestler or the cowboy boots of a Tulsa King cast member. But this is a well-rounded cast. There aren’t just wrestlers, there are film icons and musicians, comedians and voice actors. Surely there must be a different rhythm to these different sub sections of art?
Kevin Pollak as Musso on Tulsa King
For Pollak, the rhythm doesn’t rear up because of comedy vs drama, and he’s no stranger to either, it’s merely finding what’s best for the show and its identity. Pollak was asked if discovering the rhythm jumping from The Marvelous Ms. Maisel to Tulsa King was a challenge. Two shows that couldn’t be more different, but who still have a similar fast-paced heartbeat driving the story.
“Wildly different rhythm”, Pollak reveals, “but a challenging one in a similar way.” Pollak, revisiting why it has been such a pleasure to work with Stallone says that it is because of the connection between the dramatic work of Tulsa King and his experience as a comedian that makes the work an easy transition. “To be able to work with Sly and find out how open he is to improvisation is something, as a comedian, I welcome and thrive in. So it's been a joy in that regard.”
Martin Starr, who plays the dry-witted Bhodi, perhaps considered the brains of Manfredi’s operation, would agree with his comedic counterpart. “I don't know that the rhythm changes much from drama to comedy,” says Starr. “Just a topic or the subject matter. I get to dip into vengeance a little bit this season, which is fun. But I don't differentiate the two - comedy or drama. I play the scene as it makes sense to play it.”
Stallone (left) as Dwight Manfredi, Garrett Hedlund as Mitch and Bella Heathcote as newcomer Cleo Montague.
Garrett Hedlund, a musician at heart, but a marvelous actor has brought real passion and sentimentality to his role of Mitch in all three seasons of the show. Having interviewed Hedlund a few times, he understands poetry and storytelling perhaps better than many actors. Being a musician must also help him recognize the flow of storytelling perhaps in a different way than a wrestler, or a comedian or an ensemble actor. He has nothing but praise when it comes to the writing of Taylor Sheridan and showrunner Terence Winter’s writing and production team.
“There's a poetry to how it's all done” Hedlund tells us. “The tempo of it is so wonderfully fluid and continuous. But also when it comes to the editing, there's poetry with that as well. When it comes to the locations and the geography for this one, for instance, being in that Oklahoma landscape, it's a poetic environment. It screams ‘Cormac McCarthy’. But also, Taylor's got an incredible sense of music as well because music inspires writers tremendously.”
The cast of Tulsa King can seemingly inspire their viewers for years to come. With so many perfectly fitting cogs driving this poetic machine, it seems like it doesn’t matter where the cog came from. It doesn’t matter if you’re a wrestler or a musician, it only matters that you recognize the poetry you are creating.