Taylor Sheridan Moves Samuel L Jackson Spinoff from New Orleans to Frisco Texas

Major Setting Shift Brings Tulsa King Universe to Texas

Taylor Sheridan's highly anticipated Tulsa King spinoff has undergone a dramatic transformation, trading the jazz-filled streets of New Orleans for the sprawling suburbs of Frisco, Texas. The series, formerly titled NOLA King, has been officially renamed Frisco King after undergoing a creative overhaul, with Sheridan now set to write all eight episodes .

Samuel L. Jackson's character, Russell Lee Washington Jr., was introduced to viewers in Tulsa King Season 3 as someone who "after befriending Dwight Manfredi during a ten-year stint in federal prison, is sent to Tulsa by New York's Renzetti crime family to take Dwight out once and for all" . The character becomes inspired by what Dwight created in Tulsa and impressed with the possibilities of second chances.

Production is scheduled to begin in late March 2026, with cameras rolling in Fort Worth , though the series will mostly be set in Frisco, Texas, with the show still briefly visiting New Orleans according to insiders .

Sheridan Takes Full Creative Control

The location change comes alongside a significant shift in creative leadership. Original showrunner Dave Erickson, who had been set to serve as showrunner on the new series, departed in July . The shift represents deeper involvement from the architect of the Yellowstone universe himself, with Taylor Sheridan now set to personally write all eight episodes of the first season .

"We are honored to have Taylor Sheridan write the first season of Frisco King and bring to life Samuel L. Jackson's iconic character," said Matt Thunell, President of Paramount Television Studios. "Having him pen all episodes of the season with his singular voice will be a treat for fans of Tulsa King and audiences around the world" .

By moving the production to Frisco and neighboring Fort Worth, Sheridan is once again leveraging his home turf, ensuring the spinoff maintains the rugged, Texas-centric DNA that has become the hallmark of his most successful productions .

Frisco's Explosive Growth Provides Perfect Setting

For viewers not from North Texas, Frisco, about 30 miles north of Downtown Dallas, has exploded in growth over the last 25 years, as the Dallas North Tollway inched northward . With the population boom brought a spate of new high schools, the Dallas Cowboys' practice facility ("The Star"), the new PGA Frisco golf course and headquarters and dozens of other businesses and jobs .

The choice of Frisco presents an intriguing contrast for Jackson's character. Frisco is known as the safest suburb in Texas, making it an unlikely setting for a character who spent ten years in federal prison to establish his new base of operations . This juxtaposition could provide rich material for exploring themes of reinvention and second chances that have become central to Sheridan's storytelling.

Expanding the Sheridan Television Empire

This marks another North Texas-set and/or filmed Sheridan show, joining "Yellowstone" and prequel "1883," "Landman," "The Madison," "Lioness" and the in-production "Rio Palo," another "Yellowstone" spinoff . The project represents Sheridan's first new show under CEO David Ellison and Paramount's new leadership, coming as he prepares to leave Paramount for NBCUniversal after his contract ends .

"Taylor Sheridan continues to build worlds that attract some of the most iconic talent working today, and Frisco King is no exception," said Jane Wiseman, Head of Originals at Paramount+. "Having Samuel L. Jackson step into this universe is a testament to the scale and ambition of the storytelling Taylor is crafting" .

With North Texas continuing to serve as Sheridan's creative playground and Jackson's star power anchoring the project, Frisco King positions itself to capitalize on both the proven success of the Tulsa King formula and the unique cultural landscape of one of America's fastest-growing suburban communities. A release date for "Frisco King" has not been announced just yet , but the series promises to bring Hollywood's attention to a city that has transformed from a small Texas town into a modern suburban powerhouse.