‘Tulsa King’ Star Scarlet Stallone Says Spencer’s & Cole’s Relationship “Has The Power To Shift Everything”: “She’s Willing To Take A Chance On Him”

Scarlet Stallone has a bright future ahead of her. At the tender age of 20, she decided the join the family business—she is the daughter of Oscar winner Sylvester Stallone and producer Jennifer Flavin—by landing the role of Spencer in Paramount+’s Tulsa King. Over the course of three seasons, Stallone’s character has evolved dramatically. From college student to barista to horse caretaker to now a bartender at the Bred-2-Buck, Spencer has found herself getting closer to becoming part of Dwight Manfredi’s (played her by father) inner circle. “Spencer’s been jumping from job to job,” said Stallone. “Now, she’s becoming this mini businesswoman who’s trying to keep up with Dwight’s crew and navigate the beginning of her new life.”

As Spencer comes into womanhood, she catches the eye of Cole Dunmire (Beau Knapp), the son of cruel moonshiner Jeremiah Dunmire (Robert Patrick) who is at war with Mandredi and his business associates over barrels of 50-year bourbon valued at $100 million dollars. “” think every girl likes a bad boy,” said Stallone of Spencer’s attraction to Cole. To please his father, Cole has done despicable things—unbeknownst to Spencer—but their budding relationship may give him the motivation to cut ties with his family. “Cole’s and Spencer’s relationship has the power to shift everything,” teased Stallone.

Though Stallone may be the daughter of a Hollywood icon, she is forging a path all her own. “I’m just starting out in the industry, but I’ve wanted work in movies and television since I was eight,” said Stallone. “Acting and writing have always been two of my passions.” Stallone has already completed two screenplays that she hopes to get into production someday. “I love working by myself with just me and my script,” revealed Stallone, but she noted that she’s not putting any pressure on herself as she hones her craft. “I’m just going to keep pushing and working at it, but until then, I’m just doing what I can do and keeping my fingers crossed.”

Stallone spoke to Decider over Zoom to discuss Spencer’s exciting character arc in Season 3, working opposite Beau Knapp, and her hopes for her character in Season 4.

DECIDER: Scarlet, I love that we’re seeing more of Spencer’s journey this season. What did the creative team tell you about your expanded role when filming started?

SCARLET STALLONE: For Season 3, they wanted to see more of Spencer’s personality. They wanted to see her evolve. Previously, she had been shy and they had no idea what to do with her. She goes from jumping from job to job to becoming this mini businesswoman who’s trying to keep up with Dwight’s crew and navigate the beginning of her new life.

Do you miss filming those scenes out in Margaret’s stable? You were such a natural with those horses!

I do. It’s so beautiful to work with horses. I used to ride growing up, so those scenes were very natural for me to film. I love the atmosphere of that place. That ranch was just absolutely stunning. Maybe there will be more to come with that location later on.

Well, Spencer is a perfect fit for the Bred-2-Buck. Did you do any research or prep to make your bartending skills more authentic?

We did take a two-hour course on bartending and mixology. We got tips on how to be behind the bar and how to make certain drinks, even though a lot of the things are fake. However, we’re using the same color liquids and properly mixing them. Also, I’m a great bartender at home , so it came naturally.

I love what’s brewing between Spencer and Cole. Maybe Cole was thinking of misusing their closeness previously, but this week’s episode could make a turning point for him. Is Spencer as interested in making this work as he is?

I think every girl likes a bad boy [laughs]. I’m sorry I had to say it. Spencer’s a bit immature. She’s finding herself, but the reality is, Spencer has no idea who Cole really is. She had only seen the good sides of him before the launch party. She’s willing to take a chance on him.

She’s also in an environment of second chances. So many people in Dwight’s crew are rebuilding their lives. Do you think that has something to do with why she’s willing to hear him out?

I do. Dwight’s crew is full of people who are messy and powerful and vulnerable. Spencer’s growing. She sees what they do. As she finds her way into the group a little bit more, she’s seeing how forgiving they can be. It’s a family. If she messes up, she knows that they will have her back.

You and Beau Knapp have great chemistry. What was it like to work with him?

Beau has this quiet confidence that really draws people towards him, and I think you see it on screen as well. I’ve learned a lot from him.

I love that scene where he’s explaining himself to her in the car after ruining the Montague Distilleries launch party.

That’s one of my favorite scenes with him. Beau brings this vulnerability and softness to Cole as he’s confessing to Spencer how he really feels about her and about the situation with his dad. Cole opens up to her, and his admission completely shifts Spencer’s view of him. He allows her to decide whether she wants to step back.

There’s no doubt Spencer is loyal to Dwight. Do you think she could convince Cole to get out of his father’s clutches and join the gang?

Cole’s and Spencer’s relationship has the power to shift everything. And that’s all I can say [laughs]!

Fair enough! We also see in this week’s episode that Spencer is inserting herself more into Dwight’s operation by teaming up with Tyson and Goodie to rip off some college kids. Do you think joining the gang was always her goal or did she just take the opportunity that presented itself?

Spencer wants to be a part of the group. She’s not going to let Tyson and Goodie leave her out of a score. She’s gonna jump in feet first. She knows that Dwight would freak out if news of her involvement got back to him. However, she’s a risk taker. I think she’s going to keep following this path.

Spencer, Tyson and Goodie are an extremely unlikely trio, but they strangely complement each other. What can you say about their dynamic going forward in the series?

The three of us get along so well. Our dynamic off-screen really helps with our on-screen chemistry. When we were acting together in those scenes, we could feel this energy and this flow. Every time they said action, we found our characters so easily together, even though we couldn’t be more different. This show is all about misfits coming together. That trio is just three misfits coming together.

There are so many rich characters on Tulsa King. Is there any one of them that you’d like Spencer to interact with more? Why?

I’ve loved working with Jay [Will] as Tyson. We’re truly an iconic duo. We really bounce off each other well, both on-screen and off-screen. I would like to see how Spencer does opposite Mitch or Bodhi. Martin Starr is just so great as Bodhi. He’s just hilarious. I’d like to see how Bodhi’s dry humor plays against Spencer’s rebel, feral college girl. That could be a really good combination.

We already know Tulsa King has been renewed for Season 4. What are your hopes for Spencer going forward?

I hope that Spencer sticks with it. [laughs]. We’ve seen her in several jobs, and I want her to find her home. I want her to be completely part of the group. I want her to be confident in herself and pursue what she wants to do. Plus, I hope she doesn’t keep dating bad boys and keeps herself and everyone else out of trouble [laughs].

I spoke to your dad during the Tulsa King junket, and he told me you’ve written two screenplays. Can you tell me the status of those? What are your career ambitions?

I’m just starting out in the industry, but I’ve wanted work in movies and television since I was eight. I grew up on sets, so it’s incredible getting to work alongside my dad right now. Acting and writing have always been two of my passions. I took screenwriting classes in college.

I was a bit unsure of myself before writing my first script. I always thought you had to be this intense writer and know everything about the business before you could get started. One day I just said: “You know what? I’m just going to do it. I’m just gonna start writing it.” I haven’t stopped since. I’ve written around eight scripts total, but I read the first five now and I’m like, “those are flops.” No one is ever gonna read those [laughs]. Because I went through that process, I’ve got two scripts I’ve really proud of.

I love working by myself with just me and my script. Creating these characters in my head is kind of like watching a movie as I’m writing. It becomes addicting almost. I hope someday I can get these scripts into production. I’m just going to keep pushing and working at it, but until then, I’m just doing what I can do and keeping my fingers crossed