Taylor Sheridan’s NOLA King needs to break free from Tulsa King’s missteps tonal chaos and weak characters to let Samuel L. Jackson shine.

Taylor Sheridan’s teaming up with Samuel L. Jackson for NOLA King, and the hype’s already simmering. But if Sheridan wants this New Orleans-set crime saga to truly pop, he needs to steer clear of one glaring Yellowstone universe misstep, repeating Tulsa King’s formula without fixing its flaws.

While Tulsa King had Stallone swagger, it stumbled with undercooked characters and a tone that couldn’t decide if it was gritty or goofy. With a powerhouse like Jackson leading NOLA King, Sheridan’s got the perfect shot to go deeper, darker, and way sharper. Just leave the cowboy clichés and tonal whiplash behind, please.

NOLA King can be the next Breaking Bad if Taylor Sheridan corrects a Yellowstone error

Samuel L. Jackson as Director Nick Fury in a still from Secret Invasion | Credits: Marvel Studios

Samuel L. Jackson is stepping into the Taylor Sheridan-verse, and NOLA King is already stirring buzz. But for this Tulsa King spinoff to hit harder than just another stylish mob drama, it needs to do one thing: break the Sheridan formula (via Deadline).

Here’s the pattern: every Sheridan protagonist so far starts high up the food chain. Yellowstone gave us the legacy-soaked Duttons. Tulsa King had Dwight Manfredi, straight out of a New York mafia dynasty. Even CIA thriller Lioness leans on operatives with elite-level access. Power, privilege, or both. That’s the entry ticket.

But NOLA King has a shot to flip the script. If the veteran writer and showrunner Dave Erickson (Mayor of Kingstown, Fear the Walking Dead) makes Russell Lee Washington Jr. more than just “another aging gangster with a vendetta,” this could be Sheridan’s Breaking Bad. What if Jackson plays a man without a criminal pedigree? A regular guy cornered by circumstance, dragged into crime because it’s the only card left in the deck?

That’s the kind of story TV’s been missing. Not a legend in decline, but a man in transformation.

Jackson’s also expected to first show up in Tulsa King Season 3, going toe-to-toe with Stallone’s Dwight. The idea is to use that arc to launch NOLA King, where Russell heads to New Orleans to establish his own power base. It’s a smart move structurally, but again, if it’s just “another turf war,” it’s nothing new.

NOLA King cast: Everything we know

Taylor Sheridan in a still from Yellowstone | Credit: Paramount Network

Samuel L. Jackson is officially entering the Sheridan-verse. The Pulp Fiction legend will headline NOLA King, a gritty Tulsa King spinoff coming to Paramount+.

According to Deadline, Jackson plays Russell Lee Washington Jr., a crime-world heavyweight who’ll first square off with Sylvester Stallone’s Dwight “The General” Manfredi in Tulsa King Season 3. Before Russell gets his own show, he’ll cause some serious trouble in Stallone’s backyard.

The series will be written and showrun by Dave Erickson (Mayor of Kingstown, Fear the Walking Dead), with Taylor Sheridan serving as executive producer. Basically, it’s a dream team for a crime saga with bite.

Jackson, no stranger to iconic roles, brings major firepower. From Nick Fury in the MCU to Jules in Pulp Fiction, he’s got range and swagger.

Now, he’s trading Avengers for New Orleans turf wars. And with Tulsa King Season 3 still in production, Russell’s entrance promises to be explosive. Watch this space, NOLA’s about to get its king.

Every upcoming Taylor Sheridan show in 2025

Taylor Sheridan in a still from Yellowstone | Credit: Paramount Network

If it feels like everything on TV is created by Taylor Sheridan lately, you’re not wrong, and 2025’s schedule is only proving the point. With Yellowstone finally wrapping up in late 2024, you’d think Sheridan might slow down. Instead, he’s doing what he does best: going full throttle, juggling prequels, spin-offs, thrillers, and even squeezing in a historical epic film.

Let’s break down what’s coming.

The Madison

This is Sheridan’s first Yellowstone-universe entry set in the present without the Duttons. Starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Matthew Fox, The Madison revolves around the Clyburns, an emotionally battered New York family trying to start over in Montana. Details are locked down, but the setup screams tension, reinvention, and Sheridan’s signature “new town, old scars” storytelling.

Beth and Rip Spin-off / Yellowstone Season 6

Is it a spin-off or is it Season 6 in disguise? The line’s blurry, but Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser are reportedly circling another round as Beth and Rip. Sheridan’s been cryptic, but it’s clear he’s not ready to let go of his most volatile couple just yet.

Mayor of Kingstown (Season 4)

Outside the Yellowstone orbit, Jeremy Renner is back in the chaos of Mayor of Kingstown. Season 4 is on the way, with Sheridan’s co-creator Hugh Dillon, and a new showrunning crew keeping the story sharp. Expect even more prison politics and grey-area morality.

Landman (Season 2)

Billy Bob Thornton’s Landman became an instant hit in 2024. Based loosely on the Boomtown podcast, the show dives deep into West Texas oil culture. Season 2 hasn’t been officially announced, but its success makes renewal almost inevitable. Sheridan knows this space well, and so far, it’s pumping out pure ratings gold.

Lioness (Season 3)

Nicole Kidman, Zoe Saldana, Morgan Freeman. Enough said. Sheridan’s spy thriller Lioness is all speed and no brakes. If Paramount greenlights a third season, keeping that star power will be a challenge, but Sheridan’s grip on the story hasn’t wavered.

Tulsa King (Season 3)

Sylvester Stallone’s mob boss in cowboy country returns. Tulsa King Season 3 is reportedly in the dealmaking phase. Sheridan created the series, but Terrence Winter (of Boardwalk Empire fame) runs the show. Expect the same old-school swagger, just with more Oklahoma grit.

6666

Whispers about 6666 have been around for years, and Sheridan keeps feeding the fire. With Yellowstone teasing scenes from the Four Sixes Ranch, it’s clear he’s not done with that world. A standalone series seems more a question of “when” than “if.”

1944

Still under wraps, this Yellowstone prequel is set during World War II. Sheridan teased 1944 before announcing The Madison, but updates have gone dark. It could be a placeholder or a slow-burning surprise.

Empire of the Summer Moon

Sheridan’s passion project. Empire of the Summer Moon tells the story of Comanche leader Quanah Parker and his fight for survival in a vanishing world. Unlike his series, this one’s a film, and if Sheridan really does write and direct it amid all these shows, it’ll be his boldest move yet.

In 2025, Sheridan’s universe is multiplying. From rugged oil fields to mafia turf wars and generational Dutton drama, he’s shaping the streaming era like no one else. Forget “most influential.” Sheridan might just be the most unstoppable name in television.