TULSA KING Star Jay Will Talks Tyson’s Dark Transformation and Working With Sylvester Stallone

Jay Will reflects on Tyson’s journey from innocent cab driver to hardened criminal, the life-changing experience of working with Sylvester Stallone and his surprising favorite ROCKY movie.

Paramount+’s hit crime drama TULSA KING continues to raise the stakes in Season 4, with Sylvester Stallone‘s Dwight Manfredi facing dangerous enemies, shifting loyalties, and devastating personal challenges. However, one of the show’s most fascinating character journeys belongs to Tyson Mitchell, played by Jay Will, whose transformation from an innocent cab driver into a hardened member of Dwight’s criminal empire has become increasingly complicated.

What started as an unlikely friendship between a young driver and a recently released New York mobster has evolved into something much bigger. Tyson has witnessed violence, experienced personal losses, and made decisions that have permanently changed his life. Four seasons later, the young man audiences first met is almost unrecognizable.

In an exclusive interview with Nerdtropolis, I spoke with Jay Will about Tyson’s increasingly questionable choices, the price of loyalty, his character’s future without Dwight, and how working with Sylvester Stallone has changed his life.

Will also shared a hilarious story about being recognized in a South Carolina phone repair shop and revealed which ROCKY movie remains his personal favorite.

Jay Will Explains Tyson’s Dark Transformation and the Cost of Loyalty

When audiences first met Tyson in Season 1, he was simply a young cab driver who happened to cross paths with Dwight Manfredi. Attracted to Dwight’s confidence, power, and commanding presence, Tyson quickly found himself becoming part of a world he barely understood.

Now, four seasons later, his involvement has come at a significant personal cost.

During our conversation, I admitted that although I have loved Tyson since the beginning, some of his decisions in Season 4 had me shaking my head.

Will explained that understanding those choices requires looking beyond their immediate consequences.

“The decisions that we make to get to the point that we get to, that’s really the more important part because that’s what defines each character,” Will told Nerdtropolis.

He explained that Tyson’s questionable behavior reflects a much deeper internal struggle. Rather than simply judging his actions, Will believes audiences should consider the experiences and personal conflicts that have shaped the character.

When I asked what Tyson has gained and lost throughout his journey, Will acknowledged that his character has essentially left his former identity behind.

“I think he’s lost the old version of himself, which is understandable,” Will explained. “What he’s gained is a new character, his new identity, new courage, and, you know, commitment to a family that is different from his original family but has more of what he really wants.”

For Tyson, Dwight’s crew has become something more than a criminal organization. It represents a chosen family that offers belonging, purpose, and an identity he could not have imagined when the series began.

As Will sees it, Tyson remains on a continuous journey of self-discovery, even as his decisions take him further away from the person he once was.

Tyson Has Gone Too Far to Turn Back

One of the biggest questions surrounding Tyson is whether his original idea of success still exists.

Early in the series, Tyson appeared fascinated by Dwight’s wealth, influence, and the respect he commanded. However, experiencing the reality of organized crime has forced him to confront a much darker version of that lifestyle.

I asked Will whether Tyson is still chasing the same dreams or whether his experiences have completely changed his definition of success.

His response suggested that Tyson has already crossed a point of no return.

“I think he’s gone so far in the water on the other side that it’s just no coming back,” Will said.

He continued by explaining how dramatically Tyson’s circumstances have changed since Season 1.

“Now he’s got bodies, and, you know, he’s on the news. You know, back then, it wasn’t like that, Season 1. You know, it was just a cabbie driver.”

Will believes Tyson’s experiences have fundamentally reshaped his understanding of success. The rewards he once imagined have been replaced by a reality filled with consequences, responsibilities, and increasingly dangerous decisions.

Rather than dwelling on past mistakes, Tyson appears determined to continue moving forward.

“It’s no regrets. It’s no looking back. It’s only just a lesson,” Will explained.

His comments suggest that Tyson’s transformation is far from over. The character may have gained confidence, courage, and influence, but those qualities have come with sacrifices that cannot simply be undone.

Could Tyson Survive Without Dwight Manfredi?

Throughout TULSA KING, Tyson’s identity has remained closely connected to Dwight.

The mob boss became a mentor and father figure who introduced Tyson to an entirely different way of life. However, that relationship also raises an important question: What happens if Dwight is no longer around?

I asked Will whether Tyson could eventually become an independent leader or if losing Dwight would leave him struggling to find his place.

According to Will, preparing Tyson to stand on his own has always been one of Dwight’s underlying goals.

“I think that was the main, from my perspective, that’s Dwight’s objective for Tyson, is to be self-sufficient, independent, know how to carry his own and make smart decisions that can benefit him in the future.”

It’s an interesting perspective on a relationship that has defined much of Tyson’s journey.

Although Dwight introduced Tyson to a dangerous lifestyle, he also encouraged him to develop the independence needed to navigate that world.

Whether Tyson has learned enough to survive without his mentor remains an important part of the character’s ongoing evolution.

Jay Will Calls Working With Sylvester Stallone a Life-Changing Experience

While Tyson’s relationship with Dwight has become one of the show’s emotional foundations, Jay Will’s real-life connection with Sylvester Stallone has also grown as they’ve worked together.

For an actor sharing scenes with one of Hollywood’s most recognizable legends, the experience could understandably feel overwhelming.

I asked Will whether working alongside Stallone still creates those surreal moments of realizing he is collaborating with the star of ROCKY and RAMBO.

Will admitted the feeling still surprises him.

“I mean, it always fluctuates,” he said.

He recalled recently spending time on his balcony and reflecting on just how meaningful the experience has become.

Despite Stallone’s legendary status, Will explained that the two actors connected naturally because of similarities in their backgrounds and personal journeys.

“Our past and where we come from and how we got here, very, very similar,” Will shared.

Their relationship has developed into a creative partnership built on mutual understanding and respect.

Will was especially complimentary of Stallone’s willingness to collaborate, explaining that the Hollywood icon never approaches their scenes as someone who already has all the answers.

“He’s a master, but he’s also a student,” Will said.

He described Stallone as someone who welcomes ideas and encourages his fellow performers to contribute rather than simply follow his lead.

According to Will, the actor’s humility remains one of his most impressive qualities, particularly considering his decades of success in Hollywood.

“All of these years where he’s the top dog in everything, he still has this level of humility to go out and collaborate just to make the best and serve the art.”

For Will, that creative generosity has helped make TULSA KING an unforgettable professional experience.

He described working alongside Stallone as life-changing and said he appreciated the chance to learn from someone who has helped shape generations of cinema.

A Hilarious Phone Repair Shop Encounter Made Jay Will Realize His Success

Beyond his character’s transformation, TULSA KING has also dramatically changed Jay Will’s personal and professional life.

However, the moment that made him recognize just how far his career had come didn’t happen at a Hollywood premiere or major industry event.

Instead, it happened inside a small phone repair shop in South Carolina.

During our interview, I asked Will whether a specific moment made him realize his career had reached another level.

He immediately recalled an unexpected encounter after breaking his phone over the summer.

Will explained that he prefers spending time in the country rather than constantly being in the city. When his phone needed repairs, he visited a local shop hoping to get everything fixed quickly.

The employee immediately noticed something familiar about his customer.

“You seen the show called Tulsa King?” the employee asked him.

Rather than revealing his identity, Will decided to have a little fun.

“No, I never seen it before,” he replied.

The employee insisted that Will looked remarkably similar to Tyson from the Paramount+ series, even pointing out his recognizable smile and pulling up pictures.

Will continued pretending he had no idea who the character was.

The employee eventually questioned why someone like Tyson would be visiting his small South Carolina shop.

Will jokingly responded that he was simply spending his hard-earned money like everybody else.

Although the encounter was funny, Will explained that being recognized in his home state meant something different.

“At home, these are the people that knew me back when I ain’t know myself,” Will said.

For an actor whose career continues to grow, that connection to home still seems especially meaningful.

Jay Will Reveals His Favorite ROCKY Movie

Of course, I couldn’t finish an interview with one of Sylvester Stallone’s co-stars without asking an important question.

Which ROCKY movie is Jay Will’s favorite?

The question immediately caught him off guard.

“Oh, I mean, Rocky IV,” Will answered, then laughed at being put on the spot.

He jokingly worried that choosing one installment over the others might get him in trouble.

“You put me on the spot, you’ll get me in trouble, man,” Will said.

After a little playful back-and-forth, he committed to his answer.

“Let’s just say Rocky IV. Let’s just go Rocky IV. You gonna get me in trouble, man. But I like Rocky IV.”

The fourth film in the legendary boxing franchise follows Rocky Balboa as he faces Soviet powerhouse Ivan Drago, played by Dolph Lundgren, in one of the series’ most memorable rivalries.

It was a fitting conclusion to a conversation celebrating Will’s journey alongside the man who brought Rocky Balboa and Dwight Manfredi to life.

What’s Next for Tyson in TULSA KING Season 4?

Season 4 finds Dwight attempting to legitimize his growing empire while protecting his crew against corrupt politicians, dangerous new enemies, and a devastating personal loss.

As the pressure intensifies, Dwight finds himself increasingly drawn back toward the ruthless instincts he developed on the streets of New York.

For Tyson, those circumstances create an especially complicated situation.

His loyalty to Dwight remains strong, but his growing confidence, changing identity, and willingness to make dangerous decisions could continue pushing him into unfamiliar territory.

The season also features Martin Starr, Vincent Piazza, Annabella Sciorra, Chris Caldovino, McKenna Quigley Harrington, Frank Grillo, Mike “Cash Flo” Walden, James Russo, Kevin Pollak, Neal McDonough, Garrett Hedlund and Dana Delany. Gretchen Mol joins the cast as a series regular.

Terence Winter serves as head writer and executive producer, with Taylor Sheridan, Sylvester Stallone and additional producers continuing to oversee the hit Paramount+ crime drama.

TULSA KING Season 4 premieres October 16, 2026, exclusively on Paramount+.

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