This December, Samuel L. Jackson becomes the Frisco King. After establishing his new character, hitman Russell “Lee” Washington Jr., in Tulsa King season 3, the Avengers actor will now take on his own spin-off series based in Frisco, Texas. From the first trailer alone, it looks like older stars starting criminal empires in obscure American cities might just be the hottest genre on TV.
Written by Taylor Sheridan and filmed by the TV creator’s right-hand director, Christina Alexandra Voros, Frisco King will follow Lee as he sets out to follow in his buddy Dwight Manfredi’s (Sylvester Stallone) footsteps by making a name for himself in the South. As the official logline reads, Lee “discovers a hustler’s playground hidden beneath the polished surface of American suburbia.” You can watch the trailer below.
Frisco King is set to premiere on Paramount+ on Friday, December 18. Yes, that means Jackson and Sheridan will vie for eyeballs the same day that audiences head to the theaters for both Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part Three. But a Taylor Sheridan series hasn’t disappointed the streamer when it comes to viewership yet, so I’d still put my money on Frisco King having a decent weekend.
Originally titled NOLA King, the crime comedy was initially supposed to take place in New Orleans, where Jackson’s character hails from. Sheridan and Paramount later moved the production to Frisco, presumably so that the TV creator could keep operations close to his Texas ranch. Most of his TV shows now, from Dutton Ranch to Landman—and even Lioness, which shoots around the Fort Worth–Dallas area—take place within the Lone Star State.
The Tulsa King universe expands.
Jackson costars in Frisco King with Asa Germann (Scream 7), Kai Caster (Yellowstone), and Lilah Tate (Outer Banks). Plus, the trailer confirms that Stallone will make a cameo as Manfredi in the spin-off as well. Stallone is also set to kick off the fourth season of Tulsa King this fall, following its premiere on Friday, October 16.
Earlier this spring, Stallone and Jackson hopped on Instagram together to promote the series, with Stallone stating that their first scene together “turned out fantastic.”
“It’s going to be a stellar show,” he said. “He’s spectacular in this. Don’t miss it.”
