Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone Replacement Franchise Is Finally Taking Shape

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As a total film and TV buff, I’ve been watching Taylor Sheridan really take over the streaming world. From the huge popularity of Yellowstone to shows like Tulsa King, he’s everywhere! What’s cool is even though his stories are different – a Western, a crime drama – they all seem to be about people fighting for power, and that really hooks you in. It’s become a signature thing for him, and I’m always eager to see what he does next.

Taylor Sheridan is proving he knows how to captivate audiences. His 13-episode series, Marshals, is already a hit, building on the success he achieved creating the interconnected world of Yellowstone. Now, with Tulsa King gaining traction, he’s expanding that universe further, beginning with its first spinoff, Frisco King.

Tulsa King Is Becoming A New Taylor Sheridan Franchise With Frisco King

Brian Douglas/©Paramount+/Viacom Intl./Courtesy Everett Collection

Featuring Samuel L. Jackson, Frisco King continues the story of the criminal organization linked to Dwight Manfredi’s past. If the show does well, it could lead to more spin-offs from Tulsa King. It’s a strategic decision to build Frisco King as a direct continuation of Tulsa King, rather than a completely unrelated spin-off. The series brings back Samuel L. Jackson as Russell Lee Washington Jr., a character first introduced in season 3 of Tulsa King.

Because Russell’s story is already linked to Dwight’s time in prison, viewers who enjoyed Tulsa King are immediately drawn in. This allows Frisco King to introduce Russell Lee Washington Jr.’s own criminal journey while remaining connected to the larger Tulsa King universe.

Although the characters now appear in separate shows, the connected past of Manfredi and Washington will continue to link the storylines. Dwight’s work in Tulsa and Russell’s organization will function independently, but the narrative will allow for occasional team-ups and shared events. Recent changes to the creative team also demonstrate how committed Paramount+ is to this project.

Now that Dave Erickson has left as showrunner and pilot writer, Taylor Sheridan will be writing all eight episodes of Frisco King‘s first season. His direct involvement will keep the new show closely connected to Tulsa King, similar to how Yellowstone built its successful shared universe. In fact, Sheridan was so involved he even changed the show’s original title, NOLA King, and moved the setting.

Tulsa King Has Even More Spinoff Potential Than Yellowstone

The popularity of Yellowstone proved Taylor Sheridan knows how to create a successful television universe. The original series led to spin-offs like 1883 and 1923, which told the stories of the Dutton family in previous generations.

The success of the Yellowstone prequels showed how building on an existing story can enrich its overall mythology. Rather than just continuing Yellowstone endlessly, Taylor Sheridan created new shows to delve into different time periods, viewpoints, and characters within that same world. If Tulsa King follows this same approach, it has a strong chance of succeeding. Yellowstone wasn’t just popular because of its plot; it created a whole world that viewers were eager to learn more about.

Actually, Tulsa King could have even more potential for future spin-offs than Yellowstone. Crime dramas, particularly those about mob families, often feature many connected characters, which quickly expands the possibilities for new stories. While Yellowstone primarily centers on a single family and their ranch, Tulsa King explores the wider world of organized crime. With various cities, crime families, and groups constantly interacting, the show has endless story options, and the already-announced Frisco King demonstrates that the story can successfully move beyond Tulsa.

Each character we’ve met, whether friend or foe, could be the focus of a new storyline. This allows us to build a larger series centered on the web of connections stemming from Dwight’s criminal past. Just the story of Russell Lee Washington Jr.’s link to Dwight’s 25 years in prison offers plenty of possibilities.

As a critic, I see huge potential here. This franchise isn’t limited to the main story; they’ve established a whole world of compelling characters from the past. Think about it – so many of them could have gone on to build their own criminal empires after getting out. I can easily imagine any one of those figures popping up in Tulsa King, or even a Frisco King, and ultimately getting their own spin-off series. It’s a really smart way to expand the universe and keep things fresh.

This approach would be similar to how Yellowstone jumped between different places and times within its story. Tulsa King benefits from being about a character whose life revolves around building connections and growing his influence. Plus, audiences have always loved shows about the mob – from classic gangster films to contemporary crime dramas, the genre consistently attracts viewers.

The idea of building a larger universe around the show Tulsa King isn’t recent. Back in 2023, Tanya Giles, head of programming at Paramount+, told IndieWire they saw potential to expand the show into a franchise. She explained they believed the show’s core concept had a lot of storytelling possibilities and could be developed further.

Of All Taylor Sheridan’s Non-Yellowstone Shows, Tulsa King Is Best-Suited For A Franchise

Brian Douglas / Paramount+

Taylor Sheridan is known for creating hit TV shows beyond the world of Yellowstone, but some have more potential for spin-offs than others. Mayor of Kingstown, featuring Jeremy Renner, was a strong candidate. The show delves into the complex power dynamics of a Michigan town centered around its prisons, and it follows the McLusky family as they navigate the relationships between the prisons, police, and criminal groups.

The narrative is deeply connected to its specific town setting and the organizations within it, making it challenging to create successful spinoffs. Furthermore, Paramount has decided to end Mayor of Kingstown after its fifth season. Tulsa King, however, has been renewed for a fourth season and benefits from a central character whose story isn’t limited by location. Dwight Manfredi, as a mob boss, isn’t bound to one place or institution, allowing his story to easily expand to different cities and criminal worlds.

How well a show is received by viewers also matters. Tulsa King has quickly become popular, attracting a large audience – which is a great starting point for building a long-running series. Mayor of Kingstown, while eventually finding a dedicated fanbase, took more time to gain that initial traction.

The difference in overall tone largely explains why one show has expanded while the other hasn’t. Mayor of Kingstown is consistently dark and realistic, dealing with harsh issues like corruption and the difficulties of prison life. Although this makes for a powerful show, that intensity can make it challenging to build a broader, interconnected universe that viewers will tune into week after week.

In contrast, Tulsa King is a more lighthearted show, combining comedic moments with the suspense of a crime drama. Its clever writing, engaging characters, and classic mob story quickly made it a hit for Paramount+. Sylvester Stallone’s performance gives the show an appealing, old-fashioned gangster vibe, making the series easy to enjoy and opening the door for interesting new characters to develop.

As a big fan of Taylor Sheridan’s work, I found the introduction of Russell Lee Washington Jr. in the main Tulsa King series really clever. It immediately got me thinking about how a Frisco King spinoff could work, and it feels like Sheridan is deliberately building a connected universe. If Frisco King takes off, it’ll prove Tulsa King isn’t just a standalone show, but the start of a whole franchise – kind of like what he did with Yellowstone. It definitely feels like we could see even more shows spin out of Tulsa King using this same approach.

Taylor Sheridan’s crime shows often share a connected universe, with characters and storylines sometimes crossing over. This approach draws viewers deeper into the world he’s created and, for Paramount+, it builds a lasting series based on familiar faces and consistent ideas. Essentially, Tulsa King has all the elements to become Taylor Sheridan’s next big hit.

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2026-03-10 01:10