Paramount+ has officially greenlit NOLA King, a spinoff of the hit crime drama Tulsa King, with Samuel L. Jackson set to take the lead. This marks Jackson’s first time headlining a television series, and given his commanding screen presence and knack for complex characters, he’s a natural fit for the rough-edged, morally gray world Taylor Sheridan is known to craft. The announcement is paired with a first-look image of Jackson alongside Tulsa King star Sylvester Stallone in this New Orleans-set expansion of the Sheridan-verse. Sylvester Stallone and Samuel L. Jackson in “NOLA King” NOLA King will follow Russell Lee Washington Jr. (Jackson), a character set to be introduced in the upcoming third season of Tulsa King, which premieres this September. According to the official synopsis, Washington befriends Stallone’s Dwight “The General” Manfredi during a decade-long stint in federal prison. Sent to Tulsa by New York’s Renzetti crime family with orders to eliminate Manfredi, Washington instead finds himself inspired by the criminal empire Dwight has built in Oklahoma. Drawn to the idea of second chances, he returns to New Orleans—a city he left behind 40 years ago—to reconnect with family and friends while seizing control of the Big Easy’s underworld. Known for iconic roles in Pulp Fiction, Django Unchained, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Nick Fury, Jackson brings a rare blend of intensity, charisma, and gravitas that aligns perfectly with Sheridan’s storytelling. Sheridan’s projects, from Yellowstone to Mayor of Kingstown, thrive on larger-than-life characters navigating gritty, high-stakes worlds, and Jackson’s ability to embody tough, principled figures with a sharp edge makes him an ideal anchor for NOLA King. Samuel L. Jackson brings unparalleled presence and global appeal, making him the perfect choice to maximize the momentum of one of our biggest hits The series, produced by MTV Entertainment Studios and 101 Studios, stems from an idea by Chris McCarthy, co-CEO of Paramount Global and president of Showtime/MTV Entertainment. McCarthy envisioned expanding Tulsa King into a broader, family-driven franchise, much like Sheridan’s Yellowstone has spawned multiple successful offshoots. “Samuel L. Jackson brings unparalleled presence and global appeal, making him the perfect choice to maximize the momentum of one of our biggest hits,” McCarthy said. Stallone echoed the sentiment, stating, “Sam Jackson is the only choice to anchor this new adventure in NOLA, and David Glasser and 101 are the perfect partner[s] to bring it to life.” David C. Glasser, CEO of 101 Studios, added, “Partnering with Paramount has been such a rich experience. Taylor had the brilliant idea to drop Sylvester Stallone in the middle of Tulsa, and it has been everything we wanted and more. The success of this show has now led us to another icon.” Not everything is sunshine and lollipops; the production has hit a minor snag. Dave Erickson, originally slated to serve as showrunner, has stepped away due to scheduling conflicts with his roles on Tulsa King Season 3 and Mayor of Kingstown. Erickson, who wrote the pilot script, remains under an overall deal with MTV Entertainment Studios, but Paramount+ is now searching for a new showrunner to helm NOLA King. While this shift introduces some uncertainty, the project’s strong foundation—backed by executive producers Sheridan, Stallone, Jackson, Glasser, Ron Burkle, David Hutkin, Bob Yari, Michael Friedman, and Keith Cox—suggests it’s still on track. Production is eyeing a February start, with Jackson’s episodes for Tulsa King Season 3 already filmed. Language Warning NOLA King promises to deliver the same blend of crime, character-driven drama, and regional flavor that has made Tulsa King Paramount+’s top original series globally in 2024. New Orleans, with its rich cultural backdrop and history of complex power dynamics, is a fitting setting for Jackson’s character to carve out his own empire. The spinoff’s focus on second chances and family ties adds a layer of emotional depth that could set it apart, while still delivering the hard-hitting action and intrigue Sheridan fans expect. We’re cautiously optimistic about NOLA King. Jackson’s involvement is a major draw—he’s proven time and again he can carry a project with his magnetic presence, and his chemistry with Stallone in Tulsa King Season 3 could set the stage for something special. While the showrunner change raises questions, Sheridan’s track record and the strength of the creative team give us confidence. If NOLA King captures the same energy as Tulsa King while letting Jackson do what he does best, it could be a worthy addition to our list of what’s Worth it. We’ll be keeping a close eye on this one when it hits Paramount+.  The post Samuel L. Jackson to Star in Tulsa King Spinoff “NOLA King.” first appeared on Worth it or Woke.