Samuel L. Jackson to Lead Tulsa King Spin-Off, NOLA King, for Paramount+

Samuel L. Jackson is officially entering the gritty world of Taylor Sheridan's television empire. The Oscar-nominated actor has signed on to lead a new Paramount+ series titled NOLA King, a crime drama spun out of Sheridan's hit series Tulsa King, which stars Sylvester Stallone.

The project is being developed by Dave Erickson, showrunner of both Mayor of Kingstown and the current season of Tulsa King, and is produced by 101 Studios and MTV Entertainment Studios.

Jackson will first make his debut in Tulsa King Season 3, appearing in multiple episodes before transitioning into the starring role of his own series. He will also serve as an executive producer on NOLA King, which is slated to begin production in early 2025. His character, Russell Lee Washington Jr., is said to hail from the criminal underworld, much like Stallone's Dwight "The General" Manfredi. The two characters will reportedly clash in Tulsa King before Jackson's storyline branches off and relocates to New Orleans, where he'll take over his own corner of the criminal empire.

Production for Tulsa King Season 3 has been ongoing in Atlanta and Oklahoma for several months, and Jackson is set to film his scenes in July. The team behind NOLA King is reportedly targeting a February production start.

Dave Erickson, who co-created Fear the Walking Dead and is a longtime collaborator within the Sheridan-verse, will not only write and executive produce NOLA King but also act as showrunner. He is expected to shift focus to the new series while continuing his responsibilities on Mayor of Kingstown. Sheridan will also serve as executive producer, alongside David C. Glasser of 101 Studios and other key creatives involved in the Tulsa King world.

Widely known for his portrayal of Nick Fury in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Jackson's recent television work includes Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist for Peacock. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his iconic performance in Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction and was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Oscar in 2021.