Sylvester Stallone's Balboa Productions, Cole Hauser's American Outlaw Entertainment, and MGM Television are developing a TV series adaptation of the book 'Blood Aces: The Wild Ride of Benny Binion, the Texas Gangster Who Created Vegas Poker' by Doug J. Swanson. Hauser is set to portray the legendary gambler Benny Binion. The project aims to capture Binion's rise from a Texas hustler to a key figure in Las Vegas gambling history.
The series, titled 'Blood Aces,' draws from Swanson's 2014 book, which details Benny Binion's journey from a hustler in Fort Worth, Texas, to a influential figure who shaped modern Las Vegas, poker, and rodeo. Described as a gritty, character-driven prestige drama, it will explore Binion's bold tactics, family empire, and legal maneuvers in a high-stakes environment.
Sylvester Stallone expressed enthusiasm for the project, stating, “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.”
Cole Hauser, known for his role as Rip Wheeler in the series 'Yellowstone,' will star as Binion. He commented, “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.”
Lindsay Sloane, head of scripted series at MGM Television, added, “Benny Binion’s story is a sweeping American saga of ambition, risk, and reinvention, set against the mythic backdrop of a rapidly evolving Las Vegas. With Sylvester Stallone and Cole Hauser at the helm, this project brings together bold, cinematic storytelling and a deeply compelling central performance to explore the origins of modern poker and the high-stakes world that shaped it. We’re thrilled to partner with such an exceptional creative team to deliver a prestige drama that is as gripping and unpredictable as the man at its center.”
Executive producers include Stallone and D. Matt Geller for Balboa Productions, Hauser and Randall Batinkoff for American Outlaw Entertainment, and Jai Stefan. The team is currently meeting with top showrunners. This development follows Balboa Productions re-upping its first-look deal with Amazon MGM Studios last week. Hauser's upcoming projects include the 'Yellowstone' spinoff 'The Dutton Ranch' and a Netflix football drama with Matthew McConaughey.
