Josh Friedman has taken a shot on Twitter after being fired from TNT’s “Snowpiercer” series earlier this year, saying his replacement is “either an idiot, a coward, or a vichy motherf—er.”
“If you’re asked to rewrite someone or take over their show it seems like good sense and good karma to reach out to that person first and a) find out what the circumstances of their departure are and b) thank them for doing the work you’ll be profiting from,” Friedman wrote in the first of an increasingly heated series of tweets on Wednesday.
Friedman wrote the pilot for TNT’s adaptation of the 2014 Bong Joon Ho film and was set to serve as showrunner, but was replaced by “Orphan Black” co-creator Graeme Manson in February, a decision the network attributed to creative differences. (In a tweet earlier this month, Friedman wrote that he “was fired from Snowpiercer in the same phone call I was told it was picked up.”)
“You should buy that person a nice meal or a bottle of alcohol if they’re up for it. Your money was earmarked for them at one time,” Friedman continued, noting that the new showrunner is likely taking over the passion project of another writer.
“Put another way: if you were to take over a show I’d originated and worked on for two years and didn’t reach out to me before taking the job you’re either an idiot, a coward, or a vichy motherfucker,” he wrote, later adding: “In theory.”
In reply to another writer who said she’d “rather be left alone” after leaving a project, Friedman clarified that he too would prefer not to have a conversation with Manson. But it is the obligation of the replacement to extend an offer regardless of the original writer’s position, he said.
Friedman’s previous TV credits include “Terminator: The Sarah Conner Chronicles” and NBC’s “Emerald City,” which he left before it went to series.
The “Snowpiercer” series is set to star Jennifer Connelly as one of the passengers who inhabit a gigantic, perpetually moving train after the world has become a frozen wasteland. The pilot was directed by Scott Derrickson, with Marty Adelstein and Becky Clements of Tomorrow Studios, as well as Bong Joon Ho, Park Chan-wook, Lee Tae-hun and Dooho Choi to executive produce.
Representatives for TNT, Manson and Friedman did not return TheWrap’s request for comment.
If you're asked to rewrite someone or take over their show it seems like good sense and good karma to reach out to that person first and a) find out what the circumstances of their departure are and b) thank them for doing the work you'll be profiting from.
— josh friedman (@Josh_Friedman) May 17, 2018
You should buy that person a nice meal or a bottle of alcohol if they’re up for it. Your money was earmarked for them at one time. And more than likely, what may be a good job for you was a passion project for them.
— josh friedman (@Josh_Friedman) May 17, 2018
Put another way: if you were to take over a show I’d originated and worked on for two years and didn’t reach out to me before taking the job you’re either an idiot, a coward, or a vichy motherfucker.
— josh friedman (@Josh_Friedman) May 17, 2018
In theory.
— josh friedman (@Josh_Friedman) May 17, 2018