Tulsa King: Real-Life Mafia Story Behind Sylvester Stallone's Hit Series

The world of gangster movies is full of wild stories! Taylor Sheridan's Tulsa King takes this beloved genre and brings an interesting look at a New York mobster finding himself in the middle of Oklahoma!

Tulsa King and its Real-World Inspiration

This series follows the fictional Dwight "The General" Manfredi (Sylvester Stallone), who is banished to Tulsa. The premise itself has become a super hit for Paramount+ and is already set for a third season. It brings this compelling story to a new era and audiences are enjoying this fresh approach to the genre.

Even though Tulsa King has some unbelievable scenes! A lot of the details around Dwight were inspired by real events. The show takes aspects of mafia history and weaves a compelling fictional tale that has audiences glued to the screens. It gives fans something to talk about!

Also Read: Tulsa King Season 2: Dwight's Oklahoma Empire Expands

The Inzerillo Crime Family

Chickie Invernizzi (Domenick Lombardozzi) holding a gun to a beaten Jerry Izzo (Joseph Riccobene)'s head in Tulsa King season 2 episode 1 Image

The story is all about how Dwight represents a traditional mafia boss! That is why his silence becomes such a big moment in his life and the Tulsa King story! He even clashes with his rival Chickie Invernizzi! The power struggles show this incredible clash that will leave audiences hanging on!

What was especially inspiring for the series, is the banishment of Dwight. This mirrors an aspect of mafia history-the story of the Inzerillo crime family. A powerful, Italian crime family from Palermo.

The rise and fall of the Inzerillos was a key part of the Sicilian Mafia history. In the 1980s they were very successful and were even considered one of the leaders of the mob world! That is where we encounter Salvatore Riina (a.k.a. “The Boss of Bosses” and “The Beast.”, who ended their reign of power through a brutal gang war! This powerful figure ordered thousands of murders during his career. The power struggles from "The General are eerily reminiscent of those from real life.

Also Read: Sylvester Stallone's Tulsa King: A Crime Genre Masterclass?

A Real-World Banishment

Dwight Manfredi (Sylvester Stallone) in a suit standing in front of a clock and two remotes in Tulsa King Image

The story in Tulsa King focuses on Dwight becoming incredibly powerful but this real life story took place in the 1970s and early 1980s with this family having its own rise to prominence!

They ruled as part of the powerful Sicilian Mafia and ended up taking some powerful allies.
Riina demanded these crime families be banished forever!

In the show Dwight isn't as worried. In fact, he returned to New York often during the first season. His adversary doesn't have as much pull, but the reality for this family was that returning to Sicily would have ended up being a fatal move!

Also Read: Tulsa King: Is Sylvester Stallone's New Show The Best Gangster Show Ever?

Inspiration Versus Fiction:

Dwight Manfredi (Sylvester Stallone) and Mitch Keller (Garrett Hedlund) in Tulsa King Image

The real inspiration might be powerful, but the fictional storyline is very different!

Tulsa King focuses on Dwight having the success that wasn't really had by the Inzerillo family after their banishment! The show plays with what really happened, bringing the banishment as one key moment but not including some key aspects like the total decimation of the family after losing its leader in real life, while it wasn't clear if it is the same for Dwight, but they were not successful in having him killed.

There were many similarities between these moments in time for both groups!

Both stories bring that element of displacement. The banishment is at the forefront.
The reality is Dwight even built his own criminal operation! Which mirrors how some of the Inzerillos attempted a power grab once more! But there's an important factor here as Dwight doesn't show this type of behavior to this degree!

Also Read: Chickie's Role In Tulsa King Season 2: How It Could Connect To Reacher

The Future of Tulsa King

What will we expect from the show going forward?

Fans really loved Tulsa King and got their wish for another season that will premiere in September 2024!

The second season may end with new struggles of power!

It would be incredibly fitting for history to play a bigger part as the Invernizzi family, could encounter something that resembles the challenges had in real-world Sicilian crime. In fact, Dwight may even try to get power back in New York!

It is clear, from Sheridan's choices for storylines that even this fictional world will get a real glimpse at the complexities that a gangster movie must have. This looks to show more of how the series looks to mix in this element of reality with fictional situations, with incredible success, that have turned into something amazing! What we might get from Tulsa King is even more suspense and excitement from this world which means Paramount+ could have one of the best shows around!