Paramount+ Show Faces Turmoil Following ‘Unprofessional’ Layoffs

The TV series Tulsa King is currently in rocky waters, with more than 26 employees being let go before the start of Season 4. These layoffs come as creator Taylor Sheridan is set to leave Paramount+ for NBC Universal by the end of 2028. Additionally, Season 3 showrunner Dave Erickson has also stepped away from the show. The impact has been substantial, to the point where the next season reportedly won’t have a formal showrunner, and crew members who were laid off are speaking out about the way they were informed of their termination.

One of the surprising layoffs was Emmy-nominated stunt coordinator Freddie Poole, who had been working alongside Sylvester Stallone for 14 years. In an interview with Variety, he and several other cast members from various departments criticized the unprofessional and unnecessary manner in which they were let go by Paramount. Many of the crew members affected were caught off guard, as the Emmy-nominated series had been renewed for the next two years. This sudden turnover has been disheartening, with longtime Atlanta film community members expressing their disappointment.

Chad Gregory, Sylvester Stallone’s stand-in, learned about his dismissal from the show when his position opened up elsewhere, offering a significantly higher rate than what he was previously being paid. Despite some calling for toughening up in light of these changes, Gregory expressed his feelings candidly. On the other hand, Freddie Poole knew the writing was on the wall when he found out there wouldn’t be a showrunner for Season 4 just before filming began. He opted to start looking out for himself after being informed that he was let go for “creative reasons” and being offered an alternative role, which he declined.

While these layoffs have caused quite a stir, insiders have pointed out that crew turnover is not unusual during production. Despite concerns about budget cuts, one possible reason for the shake-up is the return of Terence Winter as an executive producer and head writer. Season 4 will proceed without a showrunner, with Scott Stone stepping in alongside unit production managers. However, none of them are set to take on the writing or directing responsibilities for the show.

The changes at Tulsa King come amidst Paramount’s announcement of significant job cuts under new CEO David Ellison, with a total of 1,000 workers in the US expected to be laid off in two rounds.