Taylor Sheridan needs NOLA King to succeed where Tulsa King failed by learning from its chaotic tone and depthless characters, forging a sharper path with Samuel L. Jackson now leading the charge. With anticipation building for this Paramount+ series set in New Orleans, Sheridan is under pressure to avoid repeating the shortfalls that left Tulsa King adrift and make Russell Lee Washington Jr. a compelling figure audiences haven’t seen before.
How Tulsa King’s Flaws Set the Stage for NOLA King
Taylor Sheridan faces a pivotal creative moment as he launches NOLA King, aiming to escape the pitfalls that hampered his earlier series. Tulsa King, despite drawing viewers with Sylvester Stallone’s imposing screen presence and the intrigue of a mafia transplant in cowboy country, faltered due to its inability to settle on a consistent tone. The show would swing between gritty violence and moments of levity that felt out of place, confusing its audience about what type of crime drama they were watching. Its characters often lacked dimension, reducing even its villains and heroes to broad stereotypes with little room for genuine change or emotional depth.
Now, with Samuel L. Jackson attached as the lead, Sheridan has an opportunity to invert this pattern. Fans and critics alike are watching for a new approach that goes beyond mere swagger or style, something that can withstand direct comparison to the benchmark storytelling found in Breaking Bad. The expectation is that NOLA King won’t devolve into another “gritty-goofy identity crisis,” especially with award-winning talent front and center.
Fresh Storytelling Required: The Russell Lee Washington Jr. Challenge
One recurring criticism of Sheridan’s television universe is his habit of centering stories on figures already perched atop the criminal or power hierarchy. Yellowstone revolves around the legacy-conscious Dutton family, while Tulsa King put Dwight Manfredi’s mafia pedigree on immediate display. Even in espionage drama Lioness, the heroes are elite CIA operatives. Power is inherited or assumed at the outset.
NOLA King presents a rare chance to break this mold. If Dave Erickson, renowned for his work on Mayor of Kingstown and Fear the Walking Dead, collaborates with Sheridan to develop Russell Lee Washington Jr. as something more than
another aging gangster with a vendetta,
— attribution not specified, this series could be a true game changer. A narrative in which Jackson’s character begins as an ordinary individual, forced into a world of crime by circumstance rather than heritage, would offer viewers a transformation arc rarely seen in crime dramas. This approach would present not a figure in decline, but someone compelled to evolve out of necessity, shifting the focus from territory grabs to personal metamorphosis.
The structure of NOLA King’s launch underscores the high stakes: Samuel L. Jackson will first appear during Tulsa King’s third season, directly challenging Stallone’s Dwight Manfredi, before spinning off into his own saga in New Orleans. Using this crossover to introduce Russell Lee Washington Jr.’s motivations and weaknesses—before thrusting him into a fresh arena—could build a complex, relatable antihero who feels organic within the Sheridan universe yet distinct enough to stand alone. However, if the series becomes simply another turf war, it will risk losing the originality needed to sustain interest and critical acclaim.
The Dream Team Behind NOLA King
Samuel L. Jackson’s addition to Sheridan’s storytelling arsenal heightens viewer expectations. Jackson, celebrated for memorable performances from Nick Fury in the Marvel Cinematic Universe to Jules in Pulp Fiction, is a proven draw who consistently brings both authority and nuance to his roles. As Russell Lee Washington Jr., his arrival marks a sharp shift away from the archetypes that defined past protagonists like Stallone’s Dwight or even the Dutton dynasty.
In the upcoming series, Jackson’s character is poised to shake up the established order, confronting Stallone in Tulsa King Season 3 before establishing his own narrative in New Orleans. The writing and showrunning comes from Dave Erickson, who is recognized for balancing gritty realities with emotional authenticity in past projects. Sheridan remains executive producer, overseeing the creative direction and ensuring it aligns with the broader television landscape he’s helped define. Together, this “dream team” has the opportunity to elevate the crime drama genre with layered character work and a setting pulsing with new energy.
A Behind the Scenes Look: Setting and Cast Evolution
Setting the series in New Orleans provides an atmospheric shift from the wide-open spaces or bleak cityscapes that have defined earlier Sheridan projects. This locale roots NOLA King in a city known for its unique culture, music, and a legacy of reinvention after hardship. It’s a canvas that could let the show examine issues of survival and transformation—both for its central character and the city itself.
Jackson’s casting capitalizes on his ability to portray intensity and adaptability, attributes crucial for convincing audiences that Russell can go toe-to-toe with figures like Dwight Manfredi or navigate the dangers of a new criminal world. The supporting ensemble will be vital in building this new mythos, promising a series that has the potential to surpass its predecessors in both scale and substance.
With filming for Tulsa King Season 3 underway, anticipation for Russell’s entry point continues to build. The move to introduce him as a Season 3 rival provides a strong narrative foundation and, if handled with care, could organically transition viewers to the new series, avoiding the rushed or inorganic feeling some spin-offs create.
Other Taylor Sheridan Projects Crowding the Horizon
The pressure on NOLA King’s success is magnified by the sheer volume of Sheridan’s current and upcoming work. As Yellowstone winds down, he shows no signs of slowing his pace, juggling a mix of prequels, sequels, and original shows that consistently draw public interest. Paramount+ and other networks are counting on Sheridan’s knack for launching high-concept, star-studded dramas.
Among the projects set for 2025, The Madison stands out as the Yellowstone universe’s first present-day tale not centered on the Duttons, starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Matthew Fox as the Clyburns, trying for a fresh start in Montana. A separate Yellowstone spin-off, centered on the popular couple Beth and Rip (Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser), also remains in the works as either a Season 6 or a new project, with details tightly held.
Jeremy Renner will reprise his role as mayor in the fourth season of Mayor of Kingstown, a show co-created with Hugh Dillon and kept sharp by a rotating showrunning crew. Billy Bob Thornton’s Landman, telling stories grounded in West Texas oil fields and loosely inspired by the Boomtown podcast, is awaiting official renewal as its first season has found a ready audience.
Meanwhile, Sheridan’s thriller Lioness with Nicole Kidman, Zoe Saldana, and Morgan Freeman, speeds toward a potential third season, banking on its large ensemble and relentless pacing. Stallone’s Dwight Manfredi continues his cowboy-country exploits in Tulsa King, managed by showrunner Terrence Winter. The long-whispered 6666, focused on the famous Four Sixes Ranch, seems closer to reality, while 1944, a Yellowstone prequel set during World War II, remains in deep secrecy.
Expanding beyond television, Sheridan is investing in Empire of the Summer Moon, telling the story of Comanche leader Quanah Parker. This historical epic aims for film rather than series, further stretching his creative reach and demonstrating the scale of his ambition. His production team, writers, and collaborators—everyone from showrunners like Dave Erickson to key actors such as Sylvester Stallone and Morgan Freeman—remain core to this expanding entertainment universe. Sheridan is not only keeping audiences guessing but also raising expectations for complexity and quality with each new release.
NOLA King: The Stakes and What Lies Ahead
As Sheridan’s slate multiplies and television crowds with his branded dramas, NOLA King stands as both a test and an opportunity. If the show can deliver an original, transformation-driven story led by Samuel L. Jackson—one that bypasses the pitfalls of shallow mob stereotypes and genre confusion—it could not only please longtime Sheridan fans but also capture a broader audience hungry for more nuanced, character-driven crime sagas. The involvement of a “dream team” of showrunners and performers enhances its chance to make a mark beyond the Sheridan-verse.
Ultimately, success or failure will pivot on whether Sheridan and Erickson create a Russell Lee Washington Jr. who breaks free from the weight of the past and embarks on a journey both unpredictable and emotionally real. With New Orleans as a vivid backdrop and the eyes of fans and critics alike watching for a recalibration of the modern crime drama, NOLA King has the chance to reshape not just Sheridan’s own legacy, but the future of genre storytelling itself.
