Samuel L. Jackson Leads NOLA King as Taylor Sheridan Expands His TV Empire

Samuel L. Jackson is officially ing the Sheridan-verse, and not just for a cameo. He’s set to appear in Tulsa King Season 3 before taking the reins of its spin-off, NOLA King. Yes, that’s right—Jackson will be front and centre in his own series set in New Orleans, streaming on Paramount+.

This is huge. Jackson s the long list of Hollywood legends who’ve teamed up with Taylor Sheridan—Kevin Costner in Yellowstone, Sam Elliott in 1883, Helen Mirren and Harrison Ford in 1923, Sylvester Stallone in Tulsa King—and now, the king himself, Samuel L. Jackson.

The spin-off has been in talks for a while. Back in September 2024, Tulsa King writer Terence Winter hinted at it, joking that he was looking forward to getting some beignets in New Orleans. Now it’s official, and it sounds like it’s going to be just as gritty and character-driven as the original.

While plot details are under wraps, Deadline reports that Jackson could be playing Russell Lee Washington Jr.—a man with a criminal past that mirrors Stallone’s Dwight “The General” Manfredi. The two will reportedly go head-to-head in Tulsa King Season 3 before Washington heads south to build his own empire.

Chris McCarthy, President and CEO of Showtime and MTV Entertainment Studios, has said he believes Tulsa King has the same world-building potential as Yellowstone—and with Jackson leading the next chapter, it’s hard to disagree. Screenwriter Dave Erickson, who worked on Mayor of Kingstown and Tulsa King Season 3, is set to write the spin-off.

Honestly, if you’re not excited about this, what are you even doing? Samuel L. Jackson in the lead, New Orleans as the backdrop, and Taylor Sheridan at the helm? That’s a recipe for another hit.

All hail the Taylor Sheridan universe.