James Badge Dale dives into Tulsa’s drug war in the gritty trailer for new thriller KING IVORY

Roadside Attractions and Saban Films have released the first intense trailer for King Ivorya raw and unflinching look at America’s fentanyl crisis, told through the eyes of a Tulsa cop whose family becomes part of the war he’s fighting.

Directed and written by Giovanni Tampone, King Ivory explores the tangled web of law enforcement, drug cartels, and 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 is the protagonist James Badge Dale as Layne West, a Tulsa narcotics officer whose life takes a turn for the worse when his son becomes addicted to fentanyl. Desperate to bring down those responsible, West cooperates Ben Foster AND Michele Mando to infiltrate layers of the local drug trade, which includes the Mexican cartel, a Native Brotherhood gang operating out of the Oklahoma State Penitentiary, and the Irish Mafia family running operations on the streets.

The ensemble also includes Rory Cochrane, Richie Coster, George Carroll, Sam Quartinonewcomer Jasper Jones, Graham GreeneAND Melissa Leone.

The official synopsis reads: “Based on extensive research with law enforcement, gangs, inmates, migrants and drug users, all walks of life intersect in this fentanyl exposé. With 100 times the potency of heroin and nearly undetectable at the border, fentanyl has flooded the market, triggering a wave of overdoses, crime and addiction.

“The job hits too close to home for Tulsa drug cop Layne West when his son, Jack, also becomes a drug addict. Along with his partner, Ty, and FBI counterpart, Beatty, West sets out on a mission to apprehend those responsible, including local Mexican cartel hitman Ramón Garza and Indian Brotherhood war chief Holt Lightfeather, who controls statewide trafficking from inside the Oklahoma State Penitentiary to McAlester aka “Big Mac” and the local Irish mob family, led by George “Smiley” Greene, along with his mother, Ginger, and his uncle, Mickey.

“As Holt teaches West: ‘The cartels want your kids, the next generation, who want what’s new, and fentanyl is new.’”

Swab’s cinema often thrives on moral gray areas and authentic, lived-in performances, and with James Badge Dale leading this ensemble, King Ivory it still feels like a grounded and emotionally charged project.

While some may see it as another dive into the war on drugs, the realism behind its research and raw performances could set it apart from the crowd.

King Ivory will be released in theaters nationwide on November 14, 2025.