Sylvester Stallone Says Tulsa King's Shooting Locations Are Brutal

It's hard to think of anyone tougher than Sylvester Stallone. The actor's entire career was built off of his tough guy persona within the likes of such films as "Rocky," "First Blood," "The Expendables," and more. But it appears the Italian Stallion's newest venture has even put his skills to the test.

Released on Paramount+ in November 2022, "Tulsa King" sees Stallone, in his first television starring role, step into the skin of another buffed-up brute, the Mafia capo Dwight "The General" Manfredi. The series sees Manfredi as he sets up his new crime empire in Tulsa, Oklahoma, following a lengthy prison sentence. Co-created by "Yellowstone" creator Taylor Sheridan, the show's first season has received love from critics and audiences alike, with much of the praise going towards Stallone's charismatically captivating performance (via Rotten Tomatoes).

It seems only natural for Stallone to have appeared in a mafia-related project at some point in his career. And there's no doubt that the Oscar nominee is committed to the role. So committed that not even the conditions of the laborious shoot could deter the actor.

Going into the Paramount+ crime drama series "Tulsa King," Sylvester Stallone and company knew that they'd have to show some endurance. But even then, nothing could prepare the crew for what awaited them while shooting in the state of Oklahoma.

Talking with USA Today, Stallone explains that, along with missing his Los Angeles-based family, the state gave the team a tough time. "Wonderful people, but a tough piece of topography," he comments. "It's called the Badlands for a reason. Hail one day, then it's 100 degrees, then an air raid siren is going off for a tornado." With shooting for the series occurring on such locations as the Tulsa International Airport (via Tulsa World) and other locations in the city (via Visit Tulsa) to receive incentives from the Filmed in Oklahoma Act of 2021 (via Oklahoma Film + Music), it's safe to say that the crew got a good taste of everything Tulsa has to offer.

Stallone's experience making the show was so arduous he even compared its filming to another one of his hard-hitting productions. "It was brutally intensive ... like shooting 'Rocky I' to 'Rocky V,' all nonstop," he tells USA Today. That's no small comparison, considering the real injuries sustained by Stallone while filming the boxing saga (via IndieWire). And just like the "Rocky" movies, Stallone's durability not only earned the show high praise but helped secure it a second season (via Variety).