Just days before filming was to begin on the fourth season of Taylor Sheridan’s “Tulsa King” series, approximately 26 crew members of the show’s 600-member crew were suddenly asked not to return.
Deadline reports that those affected worked in sound, camera operating, stunts, rigging, transportation, the production office, extras casting, hair, photography and stunts.
Most, if not all, the let-go crew are expected to be replaced. Those let go were reportedly led to believe they would have a job in the new season after the series was earmarked for a two-year renewal last year.
That includes Emmy-nominee Freddie Poole, who has been Stallone’s stunt double for fourteen years. Poole tells the trade he was losing his position for “creative reasons” but offered a new role as a photo double. He declined and said:
“I feel really bad for the Atlanta film community with just the way things went down… 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.”
Sources for the trade say that budget cuts were not a factor and that everyone is being replaced, while crew turnover on productions – especially for non-contracted workers – was standard.
Nonetheless, this follows news of Sheridan jumping ship to NBCUniversal once his time at Paramount is done, while Paramount is preparing to lay off 1,000 staffers in the first round of job cuts.
