Paramount+ is bringing Dwight "The General" Manfredi home. The streamer has renewed Tulsa King for a fifth season, with production shifting from Georgia to New York City — a move that aligns both with the show's narrative and with a newly competitive state tax incentive landscape. [1]
The announcement arrives just ahead of the Season 4 premiere, scheduled for October 16. [2]
A Homecoming Built Into the Story
For four seasons, Sylvester Stallone's character has been a New York mob boss exiled to Oklahoma. Season 5 will finally reverse that exile, sending Dwight Manfredi back to the city — and the mafia roots — that defined him before his associates shipped him off to Tulsa. [1] That narrative pivot makes the production relocation feel less like a logistical shuffle and more like a long-planned story beat.
The move also carries a notable industry footnote: Tulsa King becomes the first series from executive producer Taylor Sheridan — whose brand is almost synonymous with wide-open American heartland settings — to film a full season in New York. (Sheridan's The Madison shot some Manhattan scenes but was primarily set in Montana.) [2]
Why New York, Why Now
The production shift is not purely story-driven. Both Paramount and New York state officials were candid about the financial calculus. Recent enhancements to New York's Film Tax Credit Program have made the state one of the more cost-effective places in the world to shoot, drawing an increasing number of film and television projects. [1]
Hope Knight, CEO and commissioner of Empire State Development — the state's economic growth agency — framed the renewal as a validation of that strategy. "New York has built an unmatched home for film and television — world-class talent, iconic locations, and a Film Tax Credit Program that delivers real jobs and investment for New Yorkers," Knight said in a statement. "'Tulsa King' represents the latest in a growing list of projects proudly filmed in New York." [1]
Drew Brown, EVP of physical production at Paramount Television Studios, struck a diplomatic note about the outgoing location while signaling enthusiasm for the new one. "We're proud of the work we've done in Georgia, and it remains an important venue for us," Brown said, adding that the team is "thrilled" to continue Dwight Manfredi's story in New York. [2]
It is worth noting that New York Governor Kathy Hochul, whose administration oversees the tax credit program, is facing a reelection contest against Republican Bruce Blakeman — lending the high-profile production announcement an additional layer of political timing. [2]
New Faces, a Family Promotion
Season 5 arrives with a reshuffled cast. Scarlet Rose Stallone — Sylvester Stallone's daughter, who has appeared as Spencer across all four previous seasons — has been elevated from recurring player to series regular. [1]
Four actors are also joining the show in series regular roles: Erik Palladino, known for I Play Rocky; Glenn Fleshler, a veteran of Billions; Anthony Skordi from The Last Frontier; and Nickola Shreli, who appeared in Power Book IV: Force. [1] The additions suggest the writers are building out a New York-based ensemble to populate Dwight's old world.
The existing Season 4 cast — including Martin Starr, Jay Will, Vincent Piazza, Annabella Sciorra, Frank Grillo, Kevin Pollak, Neal McDonough, Garrett Hedlund, Dana Delany, and newcomer Gretchen Mol, who joined as a series regular this season — remains largely intact. [2]
What Season 4 Sets Up
Before Season 5 can unfold in New York, Season 4 has its own story to tell. According to Paramount+, Dwight will "fight to legitimize his empire and protect his crew as corrupt politicians, dangerous new enemies and a crushing personal loss hit from every direction." The season's arc is framed around hard truths about loyalty and ambition, with each development pulling Dwight deeper into the street instincts he left behind in New York — effectively laying the groundwork for his eventual return. [2]
Terence Winter continues as head writer and executive producer, a role he shares with Taylor Sheridan, Stallone himself, and a producing team that includes David C. Glasser, Ron Burkle, David Hutkin, Bob Yari, Thomas Kelly, and Keith Cox. The series is produced by Paramount Television Studios and 101 Studios. [1]
What to Watch Next
The immediate marker is the Season 4 premiere on October 16 — how audiences and critics receive it will set the commercial context for Season 5's New York gamble. Longer term, watch whether the production's arrival accelerates further Sheridan-universe projects toward New York, and whether the state's tax incentive continues to pull major streaming productions away from traditional hubs like Georgia and California. The writers' room for Season 5 was already open as of June [1], meaning the scripts are well underway — New York's skyline may appear on screen sooner than viewers expect.