Cole Hauser, known for his role in Yellowstone, will star as legendary gambler Benny Binion in the upcoming TV series Blood Aces. The project, produced by Hauser and Sylvester Stallone alongside MGM Television, draws from a 2014 biography detailing Binion's transformative impact on Las Vegas poker.
The announcement highlights a new collaboration in the entertainment world, with Blood Aces exploring the life of Benny Binion, described in the source book as a cowboy, pioneering casino owner, gangster, killer, and founder of the World Series of Poker. Based on Doug J. Swanson's 2014 biography Blood Aces: The Wild Ride of Benny Binion, The Texas Gangster Who Created Vegas Poker, the series will delve into Binion's rise from a Texas backwater through vision, determination, and brutal expediency. His approach involved running efficient businesses, cultivating influential figures, eliminating rivals, and influencing law enforcement, ultimately shaping modern Las Vegas through a blend of cold-bloodedness, intelligence, folksiness, and philanthropy.
Hauser will not only produce but also lead the cast in the titular role, a character Stallone praised as ideal for him. In a statement, Stallone said: "Douglas J. Swanson’s book captures the incredible life of Benny Binion, a New West icon who was a conduit connecting many worlds, some glamorous, some dangerous, some shady, but all intriguing, while helping to build the foundation for both Las Vegas as we know it and the explosive worldwide popularity of poker. This is a story that will captivate audiences, and it’s a role made for Cole Hauser to play. I am proud and excited to partner with Cole to bring this story to life."
Hauser echoed the enthusiasm, noting: "Benny Binion is one of the great Western American characters and success stories of the 20th century, loaded with ambition, vision, balls, and like all controversial characters, many flaws. His legacy is undeniable. How he built it is an incredible story which we can’t wait to tell. It’s a privilege to play him and an honor to produce this with Sylvester Stallone and MGM to bring this incredible story to life."
While Stallone's producing role is confirmed, his potential on-screen appearance remains unconfirmed, with further casting details pending. This project connects Hauser and Stallone through their ties to the Taylor Sheridan TV universe, where Hauser appears in Yellowstone and its upcoming spin-off The Dutton Ranch, and Stallone stars in Tulsa King. The series promises a gritty, character-driven narrative centered on the redefining era of Las Vegas poker.
