Sylvester Stallone and Samuel L. Jackson Strike Gold with First Look at Tulsa King Spin-Off

‘Frisco King’: Sylvester Stallone and Samuel L. Jackson Strike Gold with First Look at Tulsa King Spin-Off

SAN FRANCISCO — The Taylor Sheridan universe has officially crowned its next monarch. Sylvester Stallone has taken to social media to provide a first look at the highly anticipated Tulsa King spin-off, Frisco King, starring fellow cinematic icon Samuel L. Jackson.

In a series of "behind-the-scenes" glimpses shared over the weekend, Stallone, 79, confirmed that production is officially underway in San Francisco. The update also included a significant shift for the series, which had previously been developed under the working title Nola King.

A ‘Stellar’ First Scene

The reveal came via a viral Instagram video showing Stallone and Jackson sharing a laugh on set between takes. Stallone, who serves as an executive producer on the expansion, confirmed that the pair had just filmed their first scene together for the new series.

“Just filmed our first scene for Frisco King. You won’t want to miss this,” Stallone told his 16 million followers. “Sam, we’re here to kick off your new show. It’s gonna be a stellar show.”

 

 

Jackson, 77, playing the role of Russell Lee Washington Jr., was seen in character sporting a sharp, West Coast-inspired tailored look that contrasts with the rugged, Midwestern aesthetic of Stallone’s Dwight Manfredi. “Am I king yet?” Jackson joked in the clip. “I’m working on it.”

The ‘Frisco’ Pivot

The series has undergone a notable creative shift during development. Originally set in New Orleans as Nola King, the production has relocated to the Bay Area.

The plot reportedly follows Washington Jr. (Jackson), a veteran crime figure and former associate of Manfredi, who is tasked with establishing a new foothold in San Francisco. The relocation to "Frisco" is said to lean into the city’s unique criminal history and noir-ish atmosphere, moving away from the southern gothic themes originally planned.

[Table: Tulsa King Universe – Production Status]

Huge Release Date Update

While fans were initially hoping for a late 2026 debut to coincide with the third season of the flagship show, Paramount+ has provided a definitive update on the rollout.

Frisco King is now officially slated for an Early 2027 premiere. The decision to push the series into next year is reportedly due to the "ambitious scale" of the San Francisco location shoots and a desire to give Jackson’s character a full introduction during the upcoming third season of Tulsa King this autumn.

The Sheridan Empire Expands

The collaboration marks a historic pairing of two of Hollywood’s most bankable stars. For Stallone, Frisco King represents the first major expansion of his television empire following the "game-changing" success of Tulsa King in 2022.

“Chris McCarthy [co-CEO of Paramount Global] came to me with the idea to elevate the show beyond a mob boss series and create a dynamic, family-driven franchise,” Stallone said in a statement. “Sam Jackson is the only choice to anchor this new adventure.”

 

 

Written by Dave Erickson (Mayor of Kingstown), the spin-off is being touted as a "sophisticated crime drama" that explores the intersection of old-school muscle and new-age tech-capitalist greed in northern California.

As the "Kings" of Hollywood unite on the streets of San Francisco, the countdown to 2027 has officially begun for Paramount’s most powerful duo.