Hollywood icon Sylvester Stallone is absolutely effusive when it comes to the talented cast of ‘Tulsa King.’ As the star of the Paramount+ series, where he portrays a mob boss with an unexpected heart finding a new life in Oklahoma, Stallone also serves as an executive producer. This dual role means he was instrumental in hand-picking the ensemble, and he couldn’t be prouder of how perfectly each actor fits. “I’ve only experienced this once before in my career, and that was with the original cast of ‘Rocky’ – everyone was just perfect,” he shared.
Among this stellar group is 27-year-old Jay Will, who brings the character of Tyson Mitchell to life. Tyson’s journey on screen mirrors a real-life connection: he began as a chauffeur for Stallone’s mobster character, Dwight Manfredi, eventually becoming a kind of surrogate son and criminal protégé. Remarkably, the 79-year-old Stallone has extended this same mentorship to Will off-screen, fostering a bond with his co-star who is over five decades his junior.
During a recent Zoom conversation, Stallone spoke passionately about Will’s unique presence. “You could put ten other actors in that role, and they’d all blend together,” he explained. “But with Jay, you become completely captivated. It’s a rare quality I’ve observed in very few performers. They simply possess it. It’s not something you can learn or train for, even at an esteemed institution like Juilliard. It’s an innate part of who they are, a true birthright of their character.”
Interestingly, Will did attend Juilliard, the highly respected New York performing arts conservatory. After graduating in 2021, he was actively seeking his breakthrough role when the chance to audition for “Tulsa King” presented itself.
In preparation for his audition with Stallone, Will meticulously studied the legendary actor’s iconic performances in the ‘Rocky’ and ‘Rambo’ franchises. Yet, to his genuine surprise, he felt an immediate sense of ease upon meeting Stallone, which allowed him to relax and perform his best during the tryout.
“I’ve actually never shared this with you,” Will confessed to Stallone during their joint interview. “I approached the audition like an athlete studying game tapes, given my background. I walked in, prepared to face you, but the moment we met, the energy was so incredibly familial, so much more relaxed than I’d anticipated. I’d been so hyped up, expecting something entirely different, but it was truly a warm welcome.”
Stallone and the production team were so impressed that they hired Will immediately. “His on-screen presence is distinct, unlike anyone else in the cast,” Stallone noted, highlighting Will’s unique appeal.
Even communicating remotely via Zoom, the palpable chemistry between Stallone and Will shone through as they delved into their respective acting methodologies.
Stallone elaborated on his approach: “My technique often involves imagining the other actor as a close relative or someone deeply important to me. So, when I engage with Jay, it genuinely feels like I’m conversing with someone I’ve known for a lifetime.”
“That’s truly a great revelation,” Will chuckled in response. “He just dropped a gem of wisdom on me. It’s wild, but honestly, if you’re around Sly and you’re truly listening, you’ll walk away with an entire treasure trove of advice.”
‘Tulsa King’ represents a significant new chapter for both actors. The series, created by Taylor Sheridan (known for ‘Yellowstone’ and ‘Lioness’), marks Sylvester Stallone’s inaugural major television leading role after a distinguished career as a big-screen icon, with him also serving as an executive producer.
Initially, Will’s character, Tyson, was slated for only sporadic appearances. However, his performance far surpassed expectations. “His role wasn’t designed to be so prominent,” Stallone revealed about Will’s impact, “but his talent simply couldn’t be contained; it just organically grew.”
Consequently, Stallone frequently finds himself personally crafting dialogue for Will’s character. “Jay possesses a unique rhythm,” Stallone explained. “When other writers attempt to script for him, I often feel they miss his true essence. So, I step in to rewrite and sometimes even overwrite to capture it perfectly.”
Will initially approached the role of Tyson with careful adherence to the script, a testament to his Juilliard training. However, he gradually began to infuse his own interpretations of Tyson’s perspective into scenes, subtly adding a word or a nuanced expression. More often than not, his creative contributions ultimately made it into the final edit.
“As time progressed, I started hearing from the ‘Big Dog’ himself, ‘I really liked what you did there. Keep adding your unique touch,’” Will recalled. “So, I continued to do so, and my contributions became more and more frequent and significant.”
A recurring theme sees Tyson striving to prove his commitment and capability for a Mafia lifestyle, often against the strong objections of his own family. Stallone describes the scenes where Tyson chauffeurs Manfredi around town as akin to “therapy sessions” for both characters, revealing deeper insights into their complex relationship.
“We often delve into acting techniques and theory,” Stallone explained. “We constantly ask, ‘How can we extract more from this scene? What can we add?’ Sometimes, that means pausing mid-sentence for three or four seconds, allowing body language to convey emotion. We’re always experimenting with rhythm, and Jay truly enjoys that collaborative process.”
Will mentioned that at Juilliard, deviating from the written script was almost considered a cardinal sin by his instructors.
“Furthermore,” he added, “they instilled in us the belief that you haven’t truly embodied a character unless you’re faithfully upholding the original text.”
In the upcoming episodes, Manfredi and his crew will confront a formidable new rival family. Fans can also anticipate an appearance by Samuel L. Jackson later in the season as Russell Lee Washington Jr., a role that will eventually lead him to New Orleans for his own spinoff series, “NOLA King.”
The internal struggle between Tyson’s biological family and the new ‘family’ he’s formed with Manfredi is also set to intensify. “There’s a significant conflict brewing, and Tyson is once again striving to understand his place: ‘Where do I truly belong in this complex situation?’” Will explained.
As “Tulsa King” embarks on its third season and has already secured a fourth, Jay Will is looking to broaden his horizons beyond television. A passionate musician, he also recently starred as the titular character in the film “Rob Peace,” directed by Chiwetel Ejiofor, after the first season of “Tulsa King.” This powerful true story depicts Peace’s journey through Yale while navigating a clandestine drug world to fund his efforts to free his father from incarceration. To honor the role, Will even reached out to Peace’s mother via Facebook to seek her blessing.
Will already has a clear vision for his next acting endeavor.
“I’m really keen on taking on a role in an athletic film,” he stated. “I envision myself playing a boxer, a football player, or perhaps a point guard – something dynamic and sports-related.”
Should that opportunity arise, he certainly won’t have to search far for expert guidance.