Taylor Sheridan’s crime drama “Tulsa King” has become one of the most successful and recognizable series in the “Yellowstone” creator’s expanding television universe. Sylvester Stallone stars as Dwight Manfredi, a mobster who is pushed aside by his organization after spending 25 years in prison. Rather than accept defeat, Dwight turns his forced exile into an opportunity. Sent to Tulsa, Oklahoma, he sets out to create a criminal empire that answers to him alone.
Now four seasons in and still growing, Stallone’s first major television role has become a standout part of Sheridan’s catalog. Given the show’s popularity, a spin-off was hardly unexpected. “Frisco King” is headed to Paramount+, bringing another veteran crime figure into Sheridan’s world. Here’s everything currently known about the upcoming “Tulsa King” spin-off and what viewers can expect.
When will Frisco King premiere?
The project was initially announced under the title “NOLA King,” with New Orleans planned as its setting. That concept later shifted to Texas, where production officially began in March 2026.
With filming underway and “Tulsa King” returning for Season 4 on October 16, the new series is arriving sooner than fans might expect. Paramount+ has scheduled the first two episodes of “Frisco King” for December 18, 2026, giving viewers their first look at how the latest addition ranks among Taylor Sheridan’s television dramas.
Who stars in Frisco King?
Just as Sylvester Stallone anchored “Tulsa King,” “Frisco King” has secured a major star of its own. Samuel L. Jackson leads the spin-off, bringing plenty of credibility to its story of an older, highly capable criminal trying to build a new empire.
Jackson portrays Russell Lee Washington Jr., a former New York Mafia hitman and longtime friend of Dwight Manfredi. The two men met during their prison years, and their history is explored in “Tulsa King” Season 3, Episode 9, titled “Dead Weight.” That episode introduces the complicated but familiar bond between them.
The cast also includes Asa Germann, known for “Gen V,” as Teddy, a young man with ambitions of his own. The character appears positioned to fill a role similar to Lawrence “Bodhi” Geigerman, played by Martin Starr, or Tyson Mitchell, played by Jay Will, in the original series. Kai Caster, Lilah Pate, Savanna Gann, Tom Pecinka, and Arturo Del Puerto round out the announced cast. Stallone is also expected to appear, likely helping establish the connection between Dwight’s story and the new series.
Who is behind Frisco King?
Taylor Sheridan created “Frisco King,” just as he did “Tulsa King,” and is writing every episode of the first season. The series has taken a different creative path from its earlier incarnation as “NOLA King.” At that stage, “Fear the Walking Dead” co-creator Dave Erickson was attached as showrunner and had written the pilot. He ultimately left the project because of scheduling demands involving both “Tulsa King” and “Mayor of Kingstown,” another series on which he served as showrunner.
Season 1 will consist of eight episodes. “Yellowstone” veteran Christina Alexandra Voros and Sheridan regular Michael Friedman are sharing directing duties, with each filmmaker directing four episodes. Voros will oversee the premiere, while Friedman will handle the finale. 101 Studios and Paramount Television Studios are producing the spin-off. Sheridan is among the executive producers, alongside Stallone, Jackson, longtime collaborator David C. Glasser, and others.
What will Frisco King be about?
The new series picks up the thread introduced in Russell’s “Tulsa King” debut, “Dead Weight.” In that episode, Quiet Ray, played by James Russo, pressures Russell into accepting a contract to kill Dwight. Russell instead abandons the assignment and chooses to protect his old friend. The story also highlights the relaxed chemistry between the two veteran criminals, while establishing Russell as an elite hitman who has accumulated more than a few enemies.
Russell is visibly intrigued by the power Dwight has gained in Tulsa’s underworld. In “Frisco King,” he heads to Frisco, Texas, hoping to establish a criminal operation of his own. The premise offers Samuel L. Jackson a chance to dominate a new landscape, while Texas gives Sheridan plenty of room to blend the crime story with his signature neo-Western atmosphere. Like “Tulsa King,” the series appears ready to place an experienced outsider in unfamiliar territory and let the chaos unfold.
Has Frisco King released a trailer?
Yes. Paramount+ released the official teaser for “Frisco King” on its Paramount+ YouTube channel on October 15. The footage includes a reunion between Russell and Dwight, glimpses of the Frisco setting, and an unexpectedly brutal frying-pan attack. Russell is also shown with a substantial amount of cash, suggesting that his Texas operation may already be gaining momentum.
The teaser also introduces several of Russell’s associates. Teddy, played by Asa Germann, appears alongside him during missions that include breaking into what seems to be a warehouse or hangar. Another sequence features cheerleaders rehearsing, and the scene has a direct connection to the story: Lilah Pate and Savanna Gann play London and Avery, two cheerleaders who team up with Russell. With the December 18 premiere approaching, additional “Frisco King” details and promotional footage are likely to arrive soon.