James Badge Dale Dives Into Tulsa’s Drug War in Gritty Trailer for New Thriller KING IVORY
Roadside Attractions and Saban Films have dropped the intense first trailer for King Ivory, a raw and unflinching look at America’s fentanyl crisis told through the eyes of a Tulsa cop whose own family becomes part of the war he’s fighting.
Directed and written by John Swab, King Ivory explores the tangled web of law enforcement, drug cartels, and the communities torn apart by the opioid epidemic. Swab, known for Body Brokers, Candy Land, and Little Dixie, once again dives into the dark side of America’s underbelly.
The film stars James Badge Dale as Layne West, a Tulsa narcotics officer whose life spirals when his own son becomes addicted to fentanyl. Desperate to take down those responsible, West partners with Ben Foster and Michael Mando to infiltrate the layers of the local drug trade, which includes the Mexican cartel, a Native Brotherhood gang operating out of Oklahoma State Penitentiary, and the Irish Mob family running operations on the streets.
The ensemble also includes Rory Cochrane, Ritchie Coster, George Carroll, Sam Quartin, newcomer Jasper Jones, Graham Greene, and Melissa Leo.
The official synopsis reads: “Based upon extensive research with law enforcement, gangs, inmates, migrants, and addicts, all walks of life intersect in this fentanyl exposé. With potency 100 times that of heroin and nearly undetectable at the border, fentanyl has flooded the market, triggering a tidal wave of overdoses, crime, and addiction.
“Work hits too close to home for Tulsa drug cop, Layne West, when his son, Jack, also becomes an addict. In conjunction with his partner, Ty, and FBI counterpart, Beatty, West makes it his mission to take down those responsible, including the Mexican cartel's local shot-caller, Ramón Garza, Indian Brotherhood War Chief, Holt Lightfeather, who controls state-wide trafficking from inside the Oklahoma State Penitentiary at McAlester a.k.a. "Big Mac," and the local Irish Mob family outfit, led by George "Smiley" Greene, along with his mother, Ginger, and uncle, Mickey.
“As Holt educates West: ‘The cartels want your kids, the next generation, who want what is new, and fentanyl is new.’”
Swab’s filmmaking often thrives on moral gray areas and authentic, lived-in performances, and with James Badge Dale leading this ensemble, King Ivory looks like a grounded and emotionally charged project yet.
While some may see it as another familiar dive into the drug war, the realism behind its research and the raw performances could make it stand apart from the pack.
King Ivory opens in theaters nationwide on November 14th, 2025.
