Taylor Sheridan’s crime saga “Tulsa King” has become one of the most reliable hits in the sprawling television universe created by the “Yellowstone” co-creator. The series follows Sylvester Stallone’s Dwight Manfredi, a New York mobster whose 25-year prison sentence leaves him on the outside of his own organization. Rather than fade into the background, Dwight turns his forced exile to Tulsa, Oklahoma, into an opportunity to build a criminal operation from the ground up.
Now four seasons in and still expanding, “Tulsa King” has given Stallone one of his biggest television roles. Its success has also opened the door to a new spin-off. Paramount+ is preparing “Frisco King,” a series that will broaden Sheridan’s crime-drama world with a new leading man and a fresh Texas setting. Here’s what viewers should know about the upcoming show.
When will Frisco King premiere?
The project was first announced under the name “NOLA King,” with New Orleans planned as its backdrop. That concept has since evolved into a Texas-set drama, and production began there in March 2026.
The timing suggests that audiences will not have a long wait. “Tulsa King” Season 4 is scheduled to premiere on October 16, while “Frisco King” has already entered production. Paramount+ will launch the spin-off with its first two episodes on December 18, 2026, giving fans a new entry in Taylor Sheridan’s expanding lineup of television dramas.
Who stars in Frisco King?
The series has secured a leading actor with plenty of screen presence. Samuel L. Jackson heads the cast of “Frisco King,” bringing the same kind of veteran star power Stallone contributes to “Tulsa King.”
Jackson plays Russell Lee Washington Jr., a former New York Mafia hitman and an old prison acquaintance of Dwight Manfredi. Russell first appeared in “Tulsa King” Season 3, Episode 9, titled “Dead Weight.” That episode introduced the complicated history between the two men and showed why their loyalty to one another matters.
Joining Jackson is Asa Germann, known for “Gen V,” as Teddy, a younger character whose ambition may place him in a role similar to Lawrence “Bodhi” Geigerman, played by Martin Starr, or Tyson Mitchell, portrayed by Jay Will, in the original series. Kai Caster, Lilah Pate, Savanna Gann, Tom Pecinka, and Arturo Del Puerto are also part of the ensemble. Stallone is expected to appear as Dwight, helping establish the connection between the two shows.
Who is behind Frisco King?
Taylor Sheridan is creating “Frisco King,” just as he does “Tulsa King,” and has written every episode planned for the first season. The series originally took shape as “NOLA King,” with Dave Erickson, co-creator of “Fear the Walking Dead,” attached as showrunner and pilot writer. Erickson ultimately left the project because of scheduling commitments involving both “Tulsa King” and “Mayor of Kingstown.”
The eight-episode debut season will be divided between two directors familiar with Sheridan’s style. Christina Alexandra Voros, a “Yellowstone” veteran, will direct four installments, including the premiere, while frequent Sheridan collaborator Michael Friedman will helm the other four and direct the finale. 101 Studios and Paramount Television Studios are producing the show. Sheridan will executive produce alongside Stallone, Jackson, David C. Glasser, and several others.
What is Frisco King’s story about?
The spin-off picks up the thread introduced in “Tulsa King” Season 3’s “Dead Weight.” In that episode, Quiet Ray, played by James Russo, pressures Russell into accepting a contract to kill Dwight. Instead, Russell abandons the assignment and chooses to protect his longtime friend. Their scenes reveal a relaxed chemistry between the two older criminals, while also underscoring Russell’s reputation as a highly skilled hitman who has accumulated more than a few grudges.
Russell is also intrigued by the empire Dwight has built in Tulsa. In “Frisco King,” he heads to Frisco, Texas, hoping to establish a criminal organization of his own. The premise puts Samuel L. Jackson at the center of a new underworld story, with Texas providing a natural setting for the neo-Western flavor that frequently defines Sheridan’s work. As Russell recruits allies and navigates unfamiliar territory, the show appears poised to deliver another entertaining fish-out-of-water crime adventure.
Has Frisco King released a trailer?
Paramount+ released the official teaser for “Frisco King” on its Paramount+ YouTube channel on October 15. The preview features a reunion between Russell and Dwight, glimpses of the Frisco setting, and a memorable bit of improvised violence involving a frying pan. It also shows Russell with a considerable amount of cash, hinting that his early moves in Texas may be paying off.
The teaser introduces more than just the show’s two central mob figures. Teddy, played by Asa Germann, appears alongside Russell during apparent criminal jobs, including a break-in at what looks like a warehouse or hangar. A brief cheerleading sequence also carries story significance: Lilah Pate and Savanna Gann play London and Avery, two cheerleaders who eventually team up with Russell. More details and promotional footage are likely to arrive ahead of the series premiere on December 18, 2026.
