Amid Paramount’s massive rounds of layoffs and resignations, another popular franchise took a hit. Taylor Sheridan’s Tulsa King allegedly lost 26 of its 600 crew members, including Sylvester Stallone’s very own stunt double.
According to an exclusive from Deadline, dozens of the hit Paramount show’s staff were asked not to return. The incident took place right before filming began for Tulsa King season 4. The report also claimed that the company had no plans to replace any of the people who were terminated.
Crew members across many departments were laid off. This includes camera operators, stunt doubles, transportation, hair, makeup, casting, and so much more. All the people affected by the most recent staff cut were formerly led to believe that their jobs were safe after the Tulsa King was renewed for two more seasons.
Freddie Poole, Stallone’s stunt double and coordinator, was among the group of people who were cut, finding out he no longer had a job only weeks before production. The Emmy nominee had worked with the Tulsa King star for over a decade before he was fired by the Paramount show.
Poole was told that his termination was due to “creative reasons.” However, Paramount did offer him a new role as a photo double for the series. But the stunt coordinator ultimately rejected the offer and parted ways with the studio. He also expressed his disappointment with the current state of this industry. “I’ve been in this business for 30 years, and I’ve been on shows for multiple seasons, and I’ve never seen this kind of turnover.”
The new Tulsa King developments come shortly after Sheridan announced his plans to leave Paramount after his contract expires. The creator will move to NBCUniversal, where he struck an expensive multi-year TV and film deal with the company.
- Release Date
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November 13, 2022
- Network
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Paramount+
- Showrunner
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Dave Erickson, Terence Winter
