Sylvester Stallone Breaks Down the Shocking ‘Tulsa King’ Premiere Cliffhanger and Warns the Biggest Challenge Is Still Coming

‘Tulsa King’ has never been short on drama, but its latest season opened with a move few fans saw coming. Paramount+’s mob drama returned on October 16 with Sylvester Stallone back as Dwight Manfredi, the New York mafioso who rebuilt his empire in Oklahoma.

This season has had some changes behind the scenes, too. Terence Winter is back as showrunner and executive producer, replacing Dave Erickson, who reportedly left after creative disagreements with Stallone, and new episodes are rolling out every Friday.

Now Stallone is opening up about the season premiere’s jaw-dropping ending. Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, the star explained the thinking behind the shocking twist and suggested that the show’s most daunting challenge is still ahead.

The premiere, titled “W.W.D.D.,” ends with a devastating blow for Dwight. A private plane carrying Margaret Devereaux, played by Dana Delany, and Oklahoma Governor Cal Thresher goes down somewhere over the Pacific.

The final moments show the pilots unconscious and air traffic control unable to reach them. Joanne, played by Annabella Sciorra, then delivers the news that the plane has crashed, leaving both characters presumed dead.

Sylvester Stallone is back for #TulsaKing: Season 4 – premiering October 16 on Paramount+. https://t.co/4zJm8SxPdL

— Rotten Tomatoes 🍅 (@RottenTomatoes) October 3, 2026

The loss hits Dwight especially hard. Margaret wasn’t just a political operative and ranch owner; she was his girlfriend and one of the few people he truly trusted. Fans are already questioning whether the crash was really an accident. Earlier in the episode, Leonardo Timpone, played by Rhys Coiro, sells Dwight a case of expensive wine for the Bred-2-Buck.

Bodhi, played by Martin Starr, grew suspicious of the delivery but didn’t voice his concerns. Everyone on the plane was later served the wine, including the pilots, which has many viewers convinced the crash was sabotage.

The big question now is who wanted Margaret and Thresher dead. Timpone has quickly become the prime suspect, though his true motives remain unclear. The tragedy arrives just as Dwight is trying to change course. In the premiere, he announces Friedman Enterprises, a legitimate company whose name is an anagram of “Manfredi.”

His plans face resistance from all sides. Amanda Clark, played by newcomer Gretchen Mol, Thresher’s lieutenant governor, pointedly refuses to shake Dwight’s hand, a sign that political trouble is brewing.

Meanwhile, Bill is released from federal prison and tells both Dwight and Quiet Ray that he’s on their side. Ray now leads what’s left of the Invernizzi family, and his growing liquor operation adds another layer of tension.

This season also introduces Richie Stephens as English Dan, a rival crime supplier who wants a piece of Dwight’s territory. Combined with corrupt local politicians and an unresolved debt to FBI Agent Musso, Dwight has no shortage of enemies.

The rest of Dwight’s crew has their own problems. Mitch is running an insurance fraud scheme, while Tyson’s attempt to muscle in on a rival drug dealer ends with a shooting that draws Timpone’s attention.

Stallone’s comments suggest that the plane crash is only the beginning. If the show’s biggest challenge is still to come, Dwight’s quest to go legit may be the hardest fight he’s faced yet.

The franchise is also expanding beyond Oklahoma. A spinoff called ‘Frisco King’ is in development, starring Samuel L. Jackson as Russell Lee Washington Jr., a hitman who relocates to North Texas to start over. For now, all eyes are on Dwight and how he responds to the loss of Margaret. With new episodes arriving weekly on Paramount+, fans won’t have to wait long to see the fallout.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!