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Sylvester Stallone and Cole Hauser just announced a star-powered collaboration on Blood Aces, a gritty drama series about one of Las Vegas’ most infamous figures. The prestige project marks a major team-up between the Hollywood heavyweights and MGM Television, based on Doug J. Swanson’s best-selling book, The Wild Ride of Benny Binion, the Texas Gangster Who Created Vegas Poker.
🔥 Quick Facts
- Announcement Date: Project revealed February 2, 2026 as in development at MGM Television
- Stars: Cole Hauser set to play Benny Binion with Sylvester Stallone executive producing
- Source Material: Adapted from Doug J. Swanson’s definitive 2014 book Blood Aces
- Production Companies: Balboa Productions, American Outlaw Entertainment, and MGM Television
A Powerhouse Partnership Takes Shape
Cole Hauser, fresh from his iconic role as Rip Wheeler in Yellowstone, will directly play Benny Binion, the legendary Vegas pioneer. Sylvester Stallone brings his heavyweight production credentials through Balboa Productions, which has successfully developed prestige content including his acclaimed Tulsa King series on Paramount+. The two stars connected through IAG, the powerhouse agency representing both their production companies, creating an organic partnership built on mutual respect. Stallone praised Hauser immediately, stating the role was made for the actor to perform at his highest level.
Benny Binion’s Wild Vegas Story Comes to Television
Published in 2014, Doug J. Swanson’s Blood Aces chronicles the explosive rise of a man from Fort Worth, Texas who became the ruthless mastermind behind modern Las Vegas gaming. Binion’s story is one of gambling, grit, and audacious ambition mixed with moral darkness. He destroyed rivals, built a family empire, and bent the law to his will across multiple decades. The television adaptation promises to capture his unapologetically bold style as a larger-than-life figure who fundamentally redefined poker, rodeo culture, and the entire landscape of Las Vegas itself through sheer force of personality and cunning strategy.
Sylvester Stallone teams with Cole Hauser on Vegas drama ‘Blood Aces’
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| Detail | Information |
| Series Title | Blood Aces: The Wild Ride of Benny Binion |
| Lead Actor | Cole Hauser (Benny Binion) |
| Executive Producer | Sylvester Stallone |
| Production Companies | MGM Television, Balboa Productions, American Outlaw Entertainment |
“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.”
— Cole Hauser, Actor and Producer
Character-Driven Prestige Drama Emerges
The series is being positioned as a gritty, character-driven prestige series that demands top-tier creative leadership. MGM Television and both production companies are currently meeting with established showrunners to helm the project, signaling the networks commitment to elevating the material from book to screen. The production team has assembled heavyweight talent across all fronts, from Stallone’s track record with Tulsa King to Hauser’s acclaimed Yellowstone years. Both actors bring decades of experience crafting complex, morally ambiguous characters that audiences find magnetic and unpredictable.
What Sets This Project Apart From Other Prestige Dramas?
While biographical crime dramas have flooded streaming platforms and cable networks, Blood Aces differentiates itself through its laser focus on American legend-building and the origins of modern poker culture. The story captures not just the man, but the era that created him—rapidly-evolving Las Vegas where anything seemed possible. Sylvester Stallone described how Swanson’s book captures Binion as a connector across multiple worlds: some glamorous, some dangerous, some shady, but all intriguing. The narrative arc moves from small-time Texas hustle to mob-adjacent gambling empire to founding father of the modern World Series of Poker, making it a sprawling American saga about reinvention, risk, and ruthlessness that resonates with contemporary audiences.
