Tulsa King spin-off NOLA King loses showrunner even before production as Dave Erickson exits the project

It’s not easy building a criminal empire—especially when your boss has a packed calendar. NOLA King, the anticipated spin-off of Tulsa King, has hit an unexpected snag before cameras even started rolling. Dave Erickson, who penned the pilot and was initially set to run the show, has exited the project due to overlapping commitments with other high-profile series.

Erickson, a seasoned showrunner best known for his work on Fear the Walking Dead, was juggling not one but two major productions: he’s currently helming Tulsa King Season 3 and overseeing Mayor of Kingstown for Taylor Sheridan. And as it turns out, even for a crime drama veteran, there's only so much bandwidth. His departure leaves NOLA King without its top creative hand, just as the show was gaining momentum.

The series, which will feature Samuel L. Jackson in the leading role, is still pushing forward despite last week’s news. While production has not yet commenced, Paramount+ and 101 Studios are actively looking for a new showrunner to guide the project successfully. Meanwhile, Jackson’s participation is fully secured, and his anticipation is palpable.

Samuel L. Jackson’s lead role still intact—and intriguing

If there’s any silver lining to the behind-the-scenes shake-up, it’s that Samuel L. Jackson remains firmly committed to NOLA King. The veteran actor will first make his entrance in Tulsa King Season 3, introducing his character—Russell Lee Washington Jr.—as a new player in the gritty underworld. Not just a guest star, Jackson’s arc is being used as a springboard into his own series.

While details about Russell’s backstory remain under wraps, early buzz hints that he’ll clash directly with Sylvester Stallone’s Dwight Manfredi, adding more fuel to the franchise’s fire. Once the dust settles in Tulsa King, Russell will head to New Orleans to begin his own chapter—one that promises to be just as brutal, stylish, and morally gray as the series that birthed it.

Production timeline still on track… for now for NOLA King

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Even with Erickson stepping away, the timeline for NOLA King hasn’t been completely derailed. Sources close to the project suggest production is now eyeing an early 2026 start, with scripts and key pre-production efforts continuing behind the scenes. Jackson is expected to film his Tulsa King scenes in July, giving the studio a few crucial months to secure new leadership and finalize the spinoff’s foundation.

Taylor Sheridan and David C. Glasser from 101 Studios have not left the project as executive producers, meaning the Sheridan-verse’s overarching creative framework still stands. The most pressing issue now is who will carry on Erickson's work. With a Jackson-led mob drama promised, set in the murky waters of New Orleans, the right showrunner could pivot NOLA King into the next marquee title for Paramount+ prestige television.

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