The eagerly anticipated spinoff of 'Tulsa King,' featuring the acclaimed actor Samuel L. Jackson, is set to begin production under a new title and location. Originally known as 'NOLA King,' the series has been officially rebranded as 'Frisco King' and will commence filming next month in Fort Worth, Texas. A significant update for the series reveals that Taylor Sheridan, the mastermind behind 'Tulsa King,' will be writing all eight episodes of the inaugural season. This comes after the previously announced showrunner, Dave Erickson, departed the project seven months prior.
Paramount Television Studios and 101 Studios are behind 'Frisco King,' with executives expressing enthusiasm for Sheridan's expanded role. Matt Thunell, president of Paramount Television Studios, lauded Sheridan's unique narrative voice, anticipating that his complete authorship of the first season will captivate both existing fans of 'Tulsa King' and new audiences worldwide. The decision to shift the setting from New Orleans, as initially planned for 'NOLA King,' to Frisco, Texas, marks a pivotal change, though brief visits to New Orleans are still expected.
Samuel L. Jackson's character, Russell Lee Washington Jr., made his debut in the third season of 'Tulsa King.' Introduced as a figure sent to eliminate Dwight Manfredi (played by Sylvester Stallone) following a decade-long federal prison sentence, Russell's journey takes an unexpected turn. Instead of fulfilling his initial mission, he finds inspiration in Dwight's endeavors in Tulsa, embracing the prospect of a fresh start. This narrative arc is expected to be a central theme in 'Frisco King.'
Jane Wiseman, head of originals at Paramount+, emphasized the platform's commitment to compelling storytelling, noting that Taylor Sheridan consistently attracts top-tier talent to his projects. She highlighted Samuel L. Jackson's involvement as a testament to the ambitious scale of Sheridan's creative vision and expressed excitement about expanding this universe with such a formidable creative team and cast. Production, which was initially slated for early 2026, will now officially commence in late March in Fort Worth, Texas.
The executive producer team for 'Frisco King' includes Sheridan, Stallone, and Jackson, alongside David C. Glasser, Ron Burkle, David Hutkin, Bob Yari, Christina Alexandra Voros, Michael Friedman, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, and Keith Cox. The original 'Tulsa King' series demonstrated strong viewership, consistently ranking among Nielsen's top 10 streaming originals for eleven consecutive weeks in Fall 2025, underscoring the high expectations for its spinoff.
The upcoming series is poised to delve deeper into the character of Russell Lee Washington Jr., offering viewers a nuanced exploration of his new life and challenges in Frisco. With Taylor Sheridan at the helm of the writing and a stellar cast led by Samuel L. Jackson, 'Frisco King' promises to be a compelling addition to Paramount+'s growing roster of original content.