While Taylor Sheridan’s shows, which have been keeping Paramount+ afloat in the oversaturated streaming market, tend to feel indistinguishable at times in terms of tone, Tulsa King has been a complete departure in that front. This mainly stems from the Western writer’s limited input, and while not the most revered IP under his belt, it has been an entertaining watch nonetheless.
And similar to Sheridan’s most revered IP, Yellowstone, the Sylvester Stallone-starrer is set to expand with spin-off stories, starting with NOLA King, starring Samuel L. Jackson.
Samuel L. Jackson is here to give Sylvester Stallone’s Dwight a run for his money
Continuing the tradition of incorporating major A-listers in the lead of a Taylor Sheridan show, the spin-off will witness Samuel L. Jackson in the shoes of Russell Lee Washington Jr., who’ll be seen leading his own criminal empire. But before jumping to the spin-off, the Marvel star will butt heads with Sylvester Stallone‘s Dwight in season 3, which will lay the foundation for the spin-off series, titled NOLA King.
Considering one of the main drawbacks for season 2 was the lack of competent antagonists, who could stand their ground against Stallone’s Dwight, Jackson’s casting does sound promising in that regard. Given the Pulp Fiction star’s credentials as a dramatic and comedic actor, it’s safe to say he’ll give Dwight, notable for his comedic and monologuing chops, a run for his money.
However, per Deadline, he won’t be a regular threat to Dwight’s empire, as his appearance is reportedly limited to multiple episodes for season 3, whose filming will kickstart in July 2025. Given that the show has already proven to be one of Paramount’s flagship series, Jackson’s casting will only elevate the already impressive numbers.
Tulsa King has become one of Paramount Plus’ leading shows
Although Taylor Sheridan hasn’t been at the show’s helm since penning the pilot, it hasn’t proven to be a detriment to its success, as its numbers, especially for season 2, put other Paramount+ originals to shame.
After successfully carving its niche among mafia-driven narratives with Stallone’s Dwight at the top, a role that has been a revelation for the actor, the season 2 premiere opened to a whopping 2M active viewers. While 1923 drew 7.4M viewers, its views were across the streamer and linear telecasts, and the specific numbers for its Paramount+ debut haven’t been unveiled.
This makes the season 2 premiere the highest-performing series opener for a Paramount+ series. It serves as a testament to its appeal, primarily stemming from its distinct nature compared to Sheridan’s other works.
Even though Season 2 was undoubtedly weaker than its predecessor, mainly due to its underwhelming second half and lack of competent antagonists, hopefully, the inclusion of Jackson will address this issue. And if season 3 succeeds in continuing season 2’s momentum, NOLA King might not be the last of spin-offs in the Tulsa King universe.
Tulsa King is currently available to stream on Paramount+.
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