Stallone Credits Sheridan for Reaching Middle America
Sylvester Stallone says Taylor Sheridan tapped an audience Hollywood had long overlooked, and that streaming can now bring shows to air in weeks.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Television
Live Poll
Do you feel Hollywood makes movies and shows that reflect life in middle America?
Sylvester Stallone said Hollywood ignored Middle America audiences until Taylor Sheridan filled the gap, during an appearance on The Rest Is Entertainment. Stallone, who stars in the series Tulsa King, also said streaming platforms can put a show on the air in a matter of weeks.
Why it matters
Stallone's comments point to a perceived gap in the television audiences that studios and streamers have courted. For U.S. viewers, the remarks reflect a debate over which regions and audiences shape what gets produced.
The remarks are a personal assessment from Stallone rather than a measured audience figure. Stallone's characterization of Hollywood's regional focus is not backed by viewership numbers in the source material.
The players
Sylvester Stallone
Sylvester Stallone is an actor and screenwriter best known for the Rocky and Rambo franchises, and he stars in the series Tulsa King.
Taylor Sheridan
Taylor Sheridan is a screenwriter and showrunner known for creating Yellowstone and several other series focused on American regional storytelling.
The details
Stallone said Middle America audiences were starving for stories with a simpler, more confrontational vibe, and credited Sheridan with mining that audience. Tulsa King follows Dwight Manfredi, who is sent to Tulsa, Oklahoma, to build a criminal empire after serving 25 years in prison.
Timeline
1976: Rocky, which Stallone wrote and starred in, is released.
2026: The biographical drama I Play Rocky is released, directed by Peter Farrelly.
Industry Dynamics
Stallone's comments fit a broader pattern in which Taylor Sheridan's Yellowstone-era programming drew heartland audiences that Stallone says studios had previously overlooked. The remarks also underline how streaming has shortened the development timeline for new series.
Viewers in the United States who follow Stallone's series Tulsa King can watch it through streaming platforms, which Stallone says can bring new shows to air in weeks. The I Play Rocky biographical drama, which Stallone did not participate in making, is a 2026 release.
The takeaway
Stallone's comments suggest that series aimed at Middle America audiences can find a large following when studios pay attention to them. Streaming's faster production timelines may make that attention easier to act on.
Further reading
Explore more on Television coverage shaping how audiences are reached across the country.
Live Poll
Do you feel Hollywood makes movies and shows that reflect life in middle America?
