EXCLUSIVE: Before it was revealed that Taylor Sheridan was jumping ship to NBCUniversal and Paramount was preparing to layoff 1,000 staffers, several crew members on Sheridan’s Paramount+ drama Tulsa King experienced their own level of shock and awe when it came time to address their future with the company.
Deadline understands that 26 crew members of Tulsa King‘s 600-member crew were asked not to return for Season 4, which is expected to resume production in a week. Most, if not all, are expected to be replaced.
Those affected worked in sound, camera operating, stunts, rigging, transportation, the production office, extras casting, hair, photography and stunts. They were led to believe they would have a job in the new season after the series was earmarked for a two-year renewal when series star and executive producer Sylvester Stallone closed a new deal in 2024.
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Instead, they learned within a few weeks of production starting, or “at the buzzer” as one described, that they no longer had a place on the 101 Studios-produced hit drama. Among them: the Emmy-nominated Freddie Poole, who learned within two weeks of his start date that he was out of a job coordinating stunts and working as a stunt double for Stallone. He had been with the 79-year-old actor for 14 years.
“I feel really bad for the Atlanta film community with just the way things went down,” said Poole, who was told by 101 Studios that he was losing his position for “creative reasons” but was offered a new role on Tulsa King as a photo double. He declined.
“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,” added Poole, who was nominated for an Emmy in 2023 and 2025 for stunt coordinating on Tulsa King.
Chad Gregory – who was Sylvester Stallone’s stand-in for all three seasons – heard through a grapevine that he was not coming back. He was told via a friend that his job, which had previously paid $250 a day, has been posted for $400 a day.
“Look, I get it,” said Gregory, who did stand-in work for Tulsa King when he wasn’t working in construction. “Business is business. I’m sure there will be some who see this and say I need to stiffen up. That’s fine. You’re entitled to your opinion. But I will say this, unless you are out there getting gut punched, I don’t give a flying rip about your opinion.”
101 Studios and Paramount declined to comment, but insiders have stressed that crew turnover on productions is “standard practice” across the industry from season to season and everyone who was not asked back were without contracts. Another insider pointed out that budget cuts were not a factor and that everyone is being replaced.
Change was already in the works for season 4 of Tulsa King, with Deadline reporting in September that Terence Winter is returning as executive producer and head writer while season 3 showrunner Dave Erickson is exiting. Winter served as executive producer and showrunner on Tulsa King‘s first season but stepped down as showrunner after year’s end. He rejoined the series as head writer/executive producer in Season 2.
Earlier this week, it was revealed that Sheridan was leaving Paramount for a big film and TV deal at NBCUniversal. The massive five-year overall deal will begin January 1, 2029 after Sheridan’s overall TV deal with Paramount ends in 2028.
On Wednesday, Paramount announced significant job cuts, with about 1,000 U.S.-based workers being let go in the first round, and roughly another 1,000 soon to follow.