Samuel L Jackson Stars in Taylor Sheridan's New Texas Crime Drama
Finn's Take· TL;DR- Samuel L. Jackson stars in Taylor Sheridan's crime drama relocated from New Orleans to Frisco, Texas, a fast-growing Dallas suburb known as Texas's safest city.
- Sheridan took over as showrunner and will write all eight episodes himself after original showrunner Dave Erickson departed due to scheduling conflicts.
- Production begins March 2026 in Fort Worth, with Jackson playing a former hitman crossing paths with Sylvester Stallone's "Tulsa King" character in a late 2026 premiere.
From New Orleans to Frisco: A Major Creative Shift
Taylor Sheridan's latest television venture has undergone a dramatic transformation, evolving from a New Orleans-based crime series into a Texas suburban thriller. Originally titled "NOLA King" and set to follow Samuel L. Jackson's character into New Orleans, the project completely changed direction when Sheridan stepped in as showrunner, relocating the story to Frisco, Texas, a fast-growing suburb north of Dallas.
The creative overhaul began when original showrunner Dave Erickson stepped away from the project in July 2025, not due to creative differences but because he was already managing both "Tulsa King" Season 3 and "Mayor of Kingstown" simultaneously. Rather than finding a replacement, Sheridan committed to writing all eight episodes of the first season himself.
Frisco: An Unlikely Crime Drama Setting
Frisco, located about 30 miles north of Downtown Dallas, has experienced explosive growth over the last 25 years as the Dallas North Tollway expanded northward, bringing new high schools, the Dallas Cowboys' practice facility "The Star," the PGA Frisco golf course and headquarters, plus dozens of businesses and jobs. The city is known as the safest suburb in Texas, making it an intriguing backdrop for a crime series centered on a character who spent ten years in federal prison.
This setting represents a departure from Sheridan's typical wide-open ranch lands and oil fields, instead focusing on suburban sprawl, corporate parks, and new-money development pushing against old-money Dallas—where tension hides behind homeowners' associations and boardrooms rather than open range.
Production Details and Sheridan's Strategy
Production for "Frisco King" is scheduled to begin in Fort Worth in March 2026 , with at least one confirmed filming location being the Tarrant County courthouse. Filming in Fort Worth puts the production on Sheridan's home turf, in his own studio, under his direct supervision while he juggles multiple other series—a strategic logistical decision rather than coincidence.
Jackson will star as Russell Lee Washington Jr., a hitman who crosses paths with Sylvester Stallone's "Tulsa King" character Dwight Manfredi. With an eight-episode season and production beginning in late March, a late 2026 premiere appears likely.
The Future of Sheridan's Texas Empire
This follows Sheridan's established pattern since "Yellowstone" launched in 2018: create the world, write the first season himself, then hand it off to a showrunner for subsequent seasons while moving to the next project—the same approach he used for "1883," "1923," "Lioness," and "Landman."
"Frisco King" poses an intriguing creative challenge: whether Sheridan can successfully translate his instincts for rural power dynamics into a suburban Texas crime story. The answer will help determine if the Sheridan formula can adapt beyond its traditional Western settings to capture the unique tensions of modern suburban America.