Paramount+ has unveiled the first teaser and confirmed a December premiere for ‘Frisco King‘, the new ‘Tulsa King’ spin-off starring Samuel L. Jackson (Pulp Fiction, ‘Secret Invasion’). Taylor Sheridan’s criminal empire is expanding again, only this time the action is moving to the apparently respectable suburbs of Texas. Naturally, they won’t stay respectable for long.
Jackson reprises his role as Russell Lee Washington Jr., better known as Lee, a seasoned New Orleans gangster who arrives in Frisco, Texas, and spots something rather different from the quiet suburban life the locals might have expected. Beneath the manicured lawns and polished image, he discovers a playground full of opportunities for someone who knows how to make money without getting too hung up on the legalities.
Lee wastes little time putting together a new operation. He recruits an ambitious young protégé, a loyal driver and an increasingly colourful collection of associates, turning small-time hustles into something much bigger. Of course, building a criminal enterprise tends to attract attention, and every successful scam comes with a fresh set of problems. As his influence grows, staying one step ahead becomes considerably more difficult.
From Tulsa to Texas
Viewers first met Lee in Season 3 of ‘Tulsa King’, where he crossed paths with Dwight Manfredi, played by Sylvester Stallone (Rocky). The two men knew each other from their time in federal prison, although Lee’s arrival in Tulsa was hardly a straightforward reunion between old friends. Initially sent to kill Dwight, he ultimately found himself helping him instead.
Now Lee gets to be the boss of his own story, swapping Dwight’s Oklahoma territory for the rather different surroundings of Frisco. Interestingly, the spin-off was originally announced as ‘NOLA King’, with the story intended to take place in New Orleans. Somewhere along the way, the creative plans changed, and Texas became Lee’s new hunting ground. At this rate, Sheridan will have enough crime bosses dotted around America to start his own deeply questionable franchise operation.
Stallone will also make a special appearance in ‘Frisco King’, keeping the connection to the parent series intact. It should be interesting to see how much influence Dwight has on Lee’s next chapter, particularly when the new king seems perfectly capable of causing trouble all by himself.
Who Else Is In The Cast?
Joining Jackson is Asa Germann (‘Gen V’) as Teddy, an entrepreneurial college dropout whose ambition catches Lee’s eye. Kai Caster (‘Yellowstone’) plays Keith, a polite valet at the local Sandman Hotel, while Lilah Pate (‘Outer Banks’) plays London, a popular cheerleader recruited into Lee’s expanding circle.
Savanna Gann (‘English Teacher’) rounds out the announced main cast as Avery, London’s friend and fellow cheerleader, who also joins the operation. It is certainly an unusual collection of recruits for a gangster, but perhaps that’s the point. If you’re going to build a criminal empire in suburbia, you might as well make use of the local talent.
Behind the scenes, Sheridan has written all eight episodes of the first season, rather than simply lending his name as an executive producer. Long-time collaborators Christina Alexandra Voros and Michael Friedman have directed four episodes each, with Voros handling the pilot. The series is produced by Paramount Television Studios and 101 Studios, with Sheridan, Jackson and Stallone among the executive producers.
With ‘Tulsa King’ continuing its own story, ‘Frisco King’ gives Paramount+ another branch of its growing gangster universe. Whether Lee can build something to rival Dwight’s empire remains to be seen, but putting Samuel L. Jackson in charge of a crew of suburban hustlers sounds like a thoroughly entertaining recipe for trouble.
Paramount+ is launching the season with two episodes, followed by a new instalment every Friday.
‘Frisco King‘ Season 1 premieres Friday, 18th December 2026 on Paramount+.
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