Samuel L. Jackson is entering the Taylor Sheridan universe. The Oscar-nominated actor has signed on to lead NOLA King, an upcoming Paramount+ crime series being developed as a spinoff of Tulsa King, the hit mob drama led by Sylvester Stallone.
As reported by Deadline, the new show is set to expand Sheridan’s growing collection of interconnected dramas, with Jackson also lined up to appear in multiple episodes of Tulsa King’s third season before transitioning into the lead role of his own series.
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Jackson is said to be playing Russell Lee Washington Jr., a New Orleans-based crime figure who will cross paths with Stallone’s Dwight “The General” Manfredi in Tulsa King before taking centre stage in NOLA King. Like his counterpart, Washington Jr. hails from the criminal underworld and is expected to become a key rival. His arc is poised to mirror the exiled mobster narrative of Tulsa King, this time set against the backdrop of the Big Easy.
Jackson is reportedly scheduled to shoot his guest arc on Tulsa King in July, with production on NOLA King eyeing a February start.
NOLA King is being written and showrun by Dave Erickson, who also currently oversees Tulsa King and co-created Fear the Walking Dead. He’ll remain attached to the Jeremy Renner-starring Mayor of Kingstown while taking the reins on this latest project, which is backed by 101 Studios and MTV Entertainment Studios. Taylor Sheridan and David C. Glasser will also executive produce.
The new series marks a major addition to Sheridan’s television empire, which already includes Yellowstone, 1923, Mayor of Kingstown, Lioness, and Landman. The idea for NOLA King reportedly came from Showtime and MTV Entertainment Studios president Chris McCarthy, who aims to mirror the spinoff strategy used with Yellowstone.
Jackson’s casting continues the high-calibre trend of Sheridan’s leading men. The Pulp Fiction and Avengers star holds the Guinness World Record for the highest-grossing actor at the global box office, with over $7 billion in cumulative takings. On IMDb alone, his extensive résumé as an actor includes over 200 titles.
NOLA King is the latest indication that Paramount+ is betting big on the Tulsa King franchise, which debuted in 2022 and became the platform’s biggest global premiere. The show’s sophomore season remained a strong performer, landing among Nielsen’s Top 10 U.S. streaming originals.
As Stallone’s Dwight builds his empire in Oklahoma, it seems New Orleans is next on the map – and this time, it’s Jackson laying down the law. A face-off with these heavyweights should make for some entertaining viewing.
In case you’re relatively new to this region of Sheridan’s universe, here’s a look back at Tulsa King‘s first season…
