Multiple sources have suggested that the fourth season of Tulsa King is moving forward without a showrunner (via Variety). It was reported that Scott Stone, the head of production at 101 Studios, is currently the de facto showrunner of the show. 101 Studios is the production studio behind the Taylor Sheridan series.
While Sheridan created the show for Paramount+, it lacked significant leadership in recent times after multiple showrunners passed through the previous three seasons. Sources even suggested that the lack of leadership may have resulted in the show firing many of its previous crew members ahead of Season 4.
Interestingly, Stone is reportedly running the fourth season with the help of unit production managers Rebecca Rivo and Christian Agypt. However, neither Stone nor Rivo & Agypt is involved in the writing or direction of the episodes.
Freddie Poole, who worked as a stunt coordinator in the Sylvester Stallone-led show, has told Variety that he received the news directly from Stone. Poole shared, “[Stone] said, ‘We’re not going to have a showrunner. 101 is the showrunner.’ And I raised an eyebrow at that.”
Poole shared that he left after Stone’s revelation, sharing, “That was the writing on the wall for me. I knew at that point I better start looking out for myself.” The fourth season has gone into production in Atlanta.
Why Previous Showrunners Left Tulsa King
Tulsa King Season 1 was helmed by Terence Winter, but he exited the role before Season 2. While it was unclear why Winter did not take on the showrunner duties, he remained as a writer and executive producer of the show. In Winter’s absence, the second season did not have a formal showrunner.
According to Variety, Craig Zisk, the director and executive producer, had the additional responsibilities of the showrunner. When it came to the third season, Taylor Sheridan and Paramount Network brought Dave Erickson as the showrunner.
Erickson earlier collaborated with Sheridan on Jeremy Renner’s Mayor of Kingstown. While Erickson had a great time working on Renner’s show, he allegedly had issues on the set of Tulsa King. He and Stallone reportedly did not agree on many of the creative aspects of the series. Stallone allegedly wanted Winter back on the job.
Erickson also stepped down as the showrunner of the Samuel L. Jackson-led show, NOLA King. However, he remains committed to Mayor of Kingstown. Meanwhile, Winter reportedly returned to the fourth season as the head writer and executive producer, according to Deadline.
Tulsa King Allegedly Fired 26 Crew Members Ahead of Season 4
According to Variety, 26 crew members from Tulsa King were let go ahead of the fourth season. Freddie Poole, who was one of the 26 crew members, shared with Variety that these people worked across sound, stunts, transportation, and hair departments.
While it was not uncommon for shows to replace crew members in between seasons, Poole alleged that these people were not properly informed about their loss of work. Poole shared:
The manner in which this was done was just unprofessional and unnecessary. Some of these people … were told to leave their equipment at the stages [after Season 3], and then told a week before shooting that they don’t have a job. I think it was really disheartening.
These crew members have already been replaced with new people as the cameras started rolling for Season 4. 101 Studios has yet to respond to this emerging allegation.
What do you think of the Tulsa King showrunner situation? Let us know in the comments below!
All three seasons of Tulsa King are now available for streaming on Paramount+.
