Frisco King: Everything We Know About The Tulsa King Spin-Off Series
Taylor Sheridan's hit crime drama "Tulsa King" has grown into one of the "Yellowstone" creator's most enduring small-screen juggernauts. The show stars Sylvester Stallone as Dwight Manfredi, a mobster who's effectively sent to pasture after a 25-year prison stint. However, he decides to take the lemons the Invernizzi family gives him and make lemonade. Exiled to Tulsa, Oklahoma, Dwight begins working relentlessly to eventually build a new crime syndicate carrying his own name.
At four seasons and counting, Stallone's first major TV role has proven to be a fine addition to Sheridan's ever-expanding empire. Because of the show's popularity, it really doesn't come as a surprise that a spin-off is looming on the not-too-distant horizon. "Frisco King" is on its way to Paramount+, but can it deliver on the sky-high expectations "Tulsa King" fans no doubt have? Let's take a look at everything we know about the upcoming series.
What is the premiere date of Frisco King?
"Frisco King" was originally going to be called "NOLA King," and its setting was going to be New Orleans. The location has since changed to Texas, where the show started filming in March 2026.
Since the spin-off began shooting in the spring and "Tulsa King" itself is in full swing, with Season 4 premiering on October 16, it makes sense to suspect that "Frisco King" is just around the corner. Indeed, this is correct: Fans won't have to wait much longer to see how "Frisco King" will fare in the ranking of Taylor Sheridan TV shows, because the Paramount+ series' first two episodes are set to air on December 18, 2026.
Who's in the cast of Frisco King?
Sylvester Stallone jumped at a chance to be in "Tulsa King," so it's not exactly a shock that "Frisco King" had no problems getting a comparable name aboard. The spin-off series is led by none other than Samuel L. Jackson, so its "elderly hardman" credentials are definitely on point.
Jackson plays Russell Lee Washington Jr., who has a background as a Mafia hitman in New York. Russell is an old friend of Stallone's Dwight Manfredi, going back to their shared days in prison. The character made his debut appearance in "Tulsa King" Season 3, Episode 9 ("Dead Weight"), which establishes the pair's dynamic.
Jackson is joined on the new show by "Gen V" star Asa Germann, who plays the young, ambitious Teddy — a role that seems designed to be roughly comparable to either Lawrence "Bodhi" Geigerman (Martin Starr) or Tyson Mitchell (Jay Will) from "Tulsa King." Other key roles will be played by Kai Caster, Lilah Pate, and Savanna Gann, with Tom Pecinka and Arturo Del Puerto also in the cast. Stallone himself will make an appearance, presumably to set up the story and the spin-off connection.
Who's directing, writing, and producing Frisco King?
The creator of "Frisco King" is, of course, Taylor Sheridan, who also has the same role on "Tulsa King." Sheridan also writes all of the Season 1 episodes. This is a departure from the original plan back from the show's "NOLA King" days, when "Fear the Walking Dead" co-creator Dave Erickson was attached to the project as a showrunner and wrote the pilot script. Erickson exited due to scheduling conflicts with both "Tulsa King" and "Mayor of Kingstown," on which he was also the showrunner.
The eight episodes of "Frisco King" Season 1 will be directed by "Yellowstone" veteran Christina Alexandra Voros and frequent Sheridan collaborator Michael Friedman, who will both helm four episodes each. Voros will take care of the series premiere, while Friedman directs the season finale. The spin-off series is produced by 101 Studios and Paramount Television Studios. Sheridan is also one of the executive producers, along with Sylvester Stallone, Samuel L. Jackson, and Sheridan's collaborator David C. Glasser, among others.
What's the plot of Frisco King?
"Frisco King" continues the events set up by Russell's debut in the "Tulsa King" episode "Dead Weight." There, Quiet Ray (James Russo) forces a reluctant Russell to take a mission to kill Dwight, but Russell promptly opts to drop the contract in favor of protecting his friend. The episode establishes the easygoing rapport between the two aging mob men — as well as Russell's reputation as an ace hitman with a penchant for making enemies.
In "Dead Weight," Russell is clearly impressed by Dwight's new career path as the big man of Tulsa's criminal circles. "Frisco King" sees the former hitman move to Frisco, Texas in order to make similar moves of his own. The prospect of seeing Samuel L. Jackson running roughshod over Texas — a state that will give Taylor Sheridan plenty of opportunities to bring in some of his famous neo-Western elements — while recruiting members for his own criminal empire is a delicious one. If "Tulsa King" is anything to go by, the spin-off will provide plenty of fresh fish-out-of-water entertainment.
Is there a trailer for Frisco King?
There is! The official teaser trailer for "Frisco King" went up on the official Paramount+ YouTube channel on October 15. Among other things, the trailer shows a meeting between Russell and Dwight Manfredi, some ambient Frisco imagery, and some creative violence with a frying pan — not to mention Russell in possession of plenty of cash. This may indicate that whatever his plans are in Frisco, they're not exactly unsuccessful.
Apart from Russell and Dwight, we also get glimpses of other characters on the show. Asa Germann's Teddy is seen accompanying Russell on some of his exploits, such as breaking into some sort of a warehouse or hangar. We also see a brief shot of cheerleaders practicing a routine. This is far more than just set dressing; Lilah Pate and Savanna Gann will be portraying London and Avery, two cheerleaders who join forces with Russell. Keep your eyes open — more "Frisco King" information and promotional material will no doubt surface before the show's December 18 premiere.