Samuel L. Jackson is expanding his empire—this time, in the world of organized crime. The Oscar-nominated actor makes his Tulsa King debut in the newly released trailer for Season 3 of the hit Paramount+ series, stepping into the role of Russell Lee Washington Jr.
Not only will Jackson appear alongside Sylvester Stallone and Jay Will this fall, but his character will also headline the upcoming spinoff, NOLA King.
The third season of Tulsa King, premiering September 21 on Paramount+, continues the story of Dwight “The General” Manfredi (Stallone), a New York mob capo rebuilding his empire in Tulsa after serving a 25-year prison sentence.
The new season raises the stakes as Dwight’s distillery business catches the attention of the Dunmires, a powerful old-money family led by Jeremiah Dunmire (played by Robert Patrick). The trailer also teases Kevin Pollak as Special Agent Musso, who menacingly tells Dwight, “I own you, General.”
But it’s Jackson’s surprise entrance at the end of the trailer that has fans buzzing. In a tense barroom scene, Stallone’s Dwight mutters, “Is that a ghost?” to which Jackson’s Russell coolly replies, “I bet ain’t nobody seen that coming.”
Jackson’s character won’t just be a guest star. Paramount+ confirmed that Russell Lee Washington Jr. will anchor NOLA King, a brand-new spinoff set in New Orleans.
According to the official logline, Russell is sent to Tulsa by the Renzetti crime family to take Dwight out once and for all. But after witnessing Dwight’s vision and resilience, Russell returns to New Orleans to reclaim the city he left behind and build his own empire.
Production on NOLA King is expected to begin next year, with Jackson front and center. The expansion solidifies Tulsa King as one of Paramount+’s most bankable franchises. Season 2 was a breakout success, drawing more than 21.1 million global viewers and becoming the streamer’s No. 1 global original in 2024.
Created by Taylor Sheridan (Yellowstone) and Terence Winter (Boardwalk Empire), Tulsa King has proven to be a fertile storytelling ground for tales of loyalty, reinvention, and the modern mob. With Stallone confirmed to continue in Season 4 and Jackson launching NOLA King, Paramount+ is doubling down on its crime-drama universe.
Check out the trailer below.
Photo Credit: Brian Douglas/Paramount+
