Sylvester Stallone is stepping back into television with a new project set around the life of one of America’s most notorious gambling figures. The Tulsa King star will executive produce a new series based on the book Blood Aces: The Wild Ride of Benny Binion, the Texas Gangster Who Created Vegas Poker.
The show, currently in development at MGM Television, will follow Benny Binion’s rise from Texas outlaw to Las Vegas casino king. Actor Cole Hauser, best known for his work on Yellowstone, is set to portray Binion and will also help produce the series through his company, American Outlaw Entertainment. Stallone’s Balboa Productions will co-produce the project.
According to Deadline, the series will explore how Binion reshaped poker and modern gambling during his climb through organized crime and legitimate business. The story will track his influence across rodeo and gaming culture, painting a picture of a man both feared and admired for his ruthless ambition. Deadline reported the portrayal will capture Binion’s “bold and unapologetic” nature as he built a family empire and often blurred the line between the law and his own code.
In a statement to the outlet, Stallone praised author Douglas J. Swanson’s book for capturing “the incredible life of Benny Binion, a New West icon.” He added that Hauser is “made for the role” and said he is proud to bring the story to audiences alongside MGM.
Hauser said playing Binion is “a privilege” and called the character “one of the great Western American success stories of the 20th century.” He noted Binion’s legacy is filled with “ambition, vision, and many flaws,” calling the story an example of how power, risk, and opportunity collide in American history.
There is no set production date yet. Stallone is still filming season four of Tulsa King, and it remains unclear whether he will act in the new series or remain behind the camera. Analysts say fan interest around the project shows no sign of slowing, given the strong backing of two major Hollywood names and the ongoing public fascination with the early roots of Las Vegas.
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English (US) · 