Mayor of Kingstown

Mayor of Kingstown is an American drama television series, created by Taylor Sheridan and Hugh Dillon. It premiered Paramount+ on November 14, 2021. Then on February 1, 2022, the series was renewed for a second season.^[1] On September 6, 2023, the series was renewed for a third season, which is set to premiere on June 2, 2024.^[2]

Synopsis[]

The show is set in a Kingstown, Michigan where the only industry remaining are federal, state, and private prisons, the story follows the McClusky family, the power brokers between the police, criminals, inmates, prison guards and politicians, in a city completely dependent on prisons and the prisoners they contain. It is a stark and brutal look at the business of incarceration. The drama tackles themes of systemic racism, corruption and inequality, providing a stark look at their attempt to bring order and justice to a town that has neither.

Cast[]

Main[]

Jeremy Renner as Mike McLusky
Dianne Wiest as Mariam McLusky
Hugh Dillon as Ian Ferguson
Tobi Bamtefa as Bunny
Taylor Handley as Kyle McLusky
Emma Laird as Iris
Derek Webster as Stevie
Hamish Allan-Headley as Robert Sawyer
Pha'rez Lass as P-Dog
Nishi Munshi as Tracy McLusky (season 2; recurring season 1)^[3]
Aidan Gillen as Milo Sunter
Kyle Chandler as Mitch McLusky

Recurring[]

James Jordan as Ed Simmons
Nichole Galicia as Rebecca
Andrew Howard as Duke
Michael Beach as Police Captain Kareem Moore
Necar Zadegan as Evelyn Foley
Jason Kelley as Tim Weaver
Mandela Van Peebles as Sam
Rob Kirkland as Police Captain Walter
Natasha Marc as Cherry
Gratiela Brancusi as Tatiana (season 2)^[4]
Lane Garrison as Carney (season 2)^[4]

Production[]

Development[]

On January 14, 2020, it was announced at the 2020 TCA that Paramount+ ordered a first season of Mayor of Kingstown, produced by 101 Studios, MTV Entertainment Studios, and Sheridan’s Bosque Ranch Productions.^[5] On February 24, 2021, it was revealed during the ViacomCBS Streaming Event presentation that prolific director Antoine Fuqua has signed on to executive produce the series. Taylor Sheridan executive produces alongside co-creator Hugh Dillon and David Glasser, Jeremy Renner, Antoine Fuqua, Ron Burkle, Bob Yari and Michael Friedman.^[6]

Casting[]

On February 24, 2021, it was announced during the ViacomCBS Streaming Event presentation that Jeremy Renner is set as the lead in the series.^[6] In March 2021, Dianne Wiest has been tapped to star opposite Jeremy Renner.^[7] In April 2021, Emma Laird, Derek Webster, and Taylor Handley joined the series as leads.^[8]^[9] In May 2021, co-creator Hugh Dillon, Pha'rez Lass, and Tobi Bamtefa joined the series as series regulars.^[10] In August 2021, Kyle Chandler, Aidan Gillen, and Hamish Allan-Headley joined the series as series regulars and James Jordan, Nishi Munshi, Nichole Galicia, Andrew Howard, Michael Beach, Necar Zadegan, Jason Kelley, Mandela Van Peebles, Rob Kirkland and Natasha Marc are joining in recurring roles.^[11]^[12]

On July 14, 2022, it was revealed that Nishi Munshi, who recurred as the character of Tracy McLusky in Season 1, has been promoted to series regular for Season 2.^[3]

On September 20, 2022, it was revealed that Gratiela Brancusi (1883) and Lane Garrison (Yellowstone) had joined the Season 2 cast of Paramount+’s Mayor of Kingstown in recurring roles. Brancusi will play Tatiana, a hostess at the Cheetah Nightclub. While Garrison will play Carney, one of the higher-ranking prison guards at Kingstown and an associate of Mike’s (Jeremy Renner).^[4]

Filming[]

Production for the first season took place in Toronto from May 17, 2021 to October 4, 2021. Locations in Toronto include Kingston Penitentiary and the new Stratagem Stages.^[10]

Production for the second season took place at the Lampe Marina and Presque Isle Bay near Erie, Pennsylvania in June 2022.

Production for the third season took place in Pittsburgh on January 10, 2024 and is expected to last through May.

Trivia[]

Mayor of Kingstown is one of several projects for Paramount+ under Sheridan’s new overall deal with ViacomCBS and MTV Entertainment Group.^[6]
The series co-creator Hugh Dillon took on a dual role both in front of and behind the camera.^[10]
On February 1, 2022, it was announced that the series was renewed for a second season. However, it was initially not stated at the time how many episodes it will consist, nor when it will premiere.^[13]
On January 17, 2023, Variety reported that the Season 2 promotional poster for Mayor of Kingstown showed Jeremy Renner's face bruised after the snowplow accident that he had suffered. Immediately, Paramount+ changed the key art out of respect for Renner.^[14]
On September 6, 2023, it was announced that the series was renewed for a third season. Although, it was initially not stated at the time how many episodes it will consist, nor when it will premiere.^[15]
On September 27, 2023, Deadline reported that Dianne Wiest, the actress who portrays Mariam McLusky in the series would not be returning for the upcoming third season of Mayor of Kingstown. Her departure from the series is stated to be story-driven.^[16]

On November 16, 2023, it was announced that Mayor of Kingstown Season 3 is expected to go first into production in early 2024 with Yellowstone filming it's fifth and final season in spring 2024.^[17]
On December 29, 2023, Jeremy Renner, who portrays Mike McLusky in the series, reshared a post from co-star Emma Laird, who portrays Iris in the series, on Instagram with the caption: “It’s happening” and “Back with my favorite guy next week.” The two actors will reunite on set for the filming of Mayor of Kingstown's Season 3 which begins right after the New Year.^[18]
On January 1, 2024, Jeremy Renner had an interview with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen on CNN's New Year's Eve special on Sunday night. Renner told the co-hosts: “I think I’m ready, I think I’m strong enough. We’ll see…. I literally go back in a week. But I’ll be doing my best, trying my hardest." Renner, confirms his return to the Mayor of Kingstown set to begin filming for Season 3, a year ago after his snowplow accident that occured on January 1, 2022.^[19]
On January 10, 2024, Jeremy Renner shared a photo of himself in his Mike McLusky suit with the caption: "Day one on set … nervous today,” and "Hope this works out that I can ACTUALLY pull this off for our production and more importantly the fans.”^[20]
On January 24, 2024, Paramount+ revealed new and existing cast members who would be returning for Season 3 of Mayor of Kingstown.^[21]
On January 28, 2024, Jeremy Renner says working on the new season for Mayor of Kingstown is arduous, due to the freezing cold while filming in Pittsburgh, but exciting when he's on set and in character.^[22]
On March 26, 2024, Deadline reported that Rob Kirkland was set to return for Season 3 of Mayor of Kingstown. He portrayed Police Captain Walter in Season 1.^[23]
On March 28, 2024, Paramount+ released a teaser trailer for Season 3 of Mayor of KIngstown with a premiere date set for June 2, 2024.^[24]