Tulsa King’s Neal McDonough Teases Surprising Character Departures
Tulsa King is set to surprise audiences in season 4 with unexpected twists — including possible character exits.
“It’s fantastic as ever,” McDonough, 60, shared exclusively with Us at the UFC 331 red carpet event for Paramount+, while his wife, Ruve McDonough, added, “Tulsa King is all about the surprises.”
Ruve continued to hint at what fans can anticipate, stating that an air of mystery awaits, “We’re unsure of the direction for the characters. Some vanish, some appear out of nowhere. Tulsa King is [simply] incredible.”
The couple, married since 2003, praised Sylvester Stallone’s portrayal of Dwight. Looking forward to the premiere of season 4 on October 16, Neal and Ruve assured that the production team has numerous surprises planned.
Tulsa King tells the story of Stallone as an American Mafia caporegime recently released from a New York prison, who relocates to Tulsa, Oklahoma, to establish his own criminal enterprise.
Alongside Stallone and McDonough, the cast includes Martin Starr, Jay Will, Vincent Piazza, Garrett Hedlund, Dana Delany, and Frank Grillo. As creator Taylor Sheridan prepares to transition to NBC, Paramount+ has provided updates about Tulsa King’s future on the streaming platform.
“We’re just about to announce the premiere date for Tulsa King season 4, which is coming soon. This season is incredible,” stated Jane Wiseman, Paramount+’s head of originals, in an August interview with Deadline. “Sly is in top form, and there are going to be some surprises. The show is continuing.”
Wiseman further commented on the possibility of the show continuing beyond season 4, suggesting, “It’s plausible. With Tulsa and Landman, which Taylor is currently writing, along with Frisco, Dutton, and Madison, we have plenty planned and will remain busy for the foreseeable future.”
According to Variety, a writers’ room for Tulsa King season 5 is currently active. The production will shift filming locations from Atlanta to New York amidst this transition.
George Kraychyk / ©Hulu / Courtesy: Everett Collection If your favorite series has seemed different over time, there’s likely been a change in showrunner at play. Law & Order: Organized Crime has grappled to establish itself as a successful spinoff of Law & Order: SVU, continuing to capture media attention.
Reports indicate that the decision to relocate filming was motivated by budget and storyline factors. With New York’s film tax incentive program being enhanced twice in the last three years, Tulsa King officially made the move to reap those financial benefits.
This potential change comes after Tulsa King has encountered some difficulties behind the scenes. The Paramount+ series initially had Terence Winter as the showrunner with Sheridan. Following the renewal for season 2, Winter stepped down due to creative disagreements but returned as the head writer.
Sheridan chose not to appoint a showrunner for season 2, instead hiring a director and executive producer to manage daily operations.
Dave Erickson later came on board as the showrunner for season 3. By season 4, Tulsa King began production without a designated showrunner, relying on Scott Stone, who was an executive responsible for production at 101 Studios, to oversee daily operations while Winter returned as a writer.
Meanwhile, Sheridan has recently secured a significant deal with NBCUniversal. This five-year overall agreement for film, TV, and streaming is set to commence on January 1, 2029, following the expiration of his TV contract with Paramount in 2028.
