Mayor of Kingstown star Taylor Handley has revealed his emotional response to Stephen King’s glowing review of season 3, explaining him and others’ initial reactions to the praise. The show stars Jeremey Renner as Mike McLusky, a mediator between law enforcement and organized crime known as the “Mayor” trying to keep peace within his titular Michigan town. Mayor of Kingstown season 3 is the first project Renner has been part of since his snowplow accident in 2023, getting positive reviews. King, the horror author, has also praised the show for Renner and the wild storylines.

Speaking with Screen Rant, Handley, who portrays Mike’s younger brother Kyle, revealed his emotional response to when he initially heard King praising the series. The actor explained how big of a moment it was for him and others involved in the show’s production, including co-creator and showrunner Hugh Dillon. Check out what Handley had to say about King’s review below:

It was a real feather in the show’s cap. Absolutely. It was a great time. I was talking with Hugh [Dillon] and we were just laughing and just we were so pumped because as you said, he is one of the greatest authors of all time. And so having him come out and support the show and love the show and just tweet all about the show it was a real fun day.

How King’s Review Makes Mayor Of Kingstown More Exciting

The Show Focuses On Action & Dark Storylines

King admits in his review of the show that he doesn’t fully comprehend what’s going on in its story. However, he still praised Mayor of Kingstown‘s cast while comparing it to shows like The Shield and Sons of Anarchy, both of which he had similar reactions to while watching. While the horror author is best known for creating terrifying stories, his love of all genres indicates the Renner-led series stands out to him because of how unique its premise and presentation are.

The series has many complex elements to it that make it a compelling watch, with every core character having major stories that weave into one another’s lives. For example, season 3 focuses on both the inner workings of the town, as well as criminals from the outside trying to set up shop within its chaotic environment. This results in many narratives following Mike, Kyle, Iris (Emma Laird) and Bunny (Tobi Bamtefa) as they try to maintain order within the town, as well as in their lives.

While it’s currently unclear if Mayor of Kingstown season 4 is ever going to happen, the praise being given to season 3 in particular makes it seem like the show could continue for quite some time. If this ends up being the case, then King could have even more positive things to say about the series in the future. Given the number of intriguing characters and stories that can still be told – and with season 3 nearing its end – it wouldn’t be surprising if a renewal announcement happened thanks to popular praise for the show.