Billy Bob Thornton on How ‘Landman’ Was Written for Him and What’s Coming in Season 2

When Taylor Sheridan pitched Landman to Billy Bob Thornton, the actor didn’t need much convincing. “Taylor and I had dinner after the premiere of ‘1883,’ which I’d done a cameo in, and he said, ‘I’m writing this series. I’m going to write it in your voice,’” Thornton told Variety. That voice, gravelly, no-nonsense, and steeped in Southern grit, became the backbone of Tommy Norris, a fixer in the cutthroat world of oil leases and land deals.

Set in the unforgiving terrain of West Texas, Landman follows Norris as he navigates the volatile intersection of corporate ambition, family dysfunction, and environmental fallout. The series, created by Sheridan and Christian Wallace, draws inspiration from the Boomtown podcast and leans into the chaos of a modern-day gold rush, only this time, it’s crude oil fueling the frenzy.

Thornton’s portrayal of Norris is as lived-in as a pair of scuffed boots. “He really did capture the voice, so for me it was just a matter of putting on a white snap-button Western shirt and a cowboy hat,” he said to Variety. “Honestly, the part was written for me and when I read it, I said, ‘Yeah, OK, that’s me. I can do this.’” The role echoes shades of his past work, but with a new layer of weathered resolve.

Ali Larter, who plays Angela Norris, Tommy’s ex-wife and emotional counterweight, brings a fiery presence to the screen. Her performance has drawn praise for its rawness and unpredictability. “Exhilarating and exhausting,” is how she described the role, reflecting on the emotional range required to portray a woman caught between loyalty and self-preservation.

The show’s debut marked a major win for Paramount+, becoming the platform’s most-watched premiere in two years and landing in the top 10 original streaming series of late 2024. While some critics have taken issue with the show’s depiction of women, Thornton’s performance has been widely applauded, and the series has already been renewed for a second season.

Thornton approached Landman with a simple philosophy: bring as much of himself to the role as possible. “Your best work is when you play yourself to a degree, because it’s going to be the most honest thing you do,” he told Variety while reflecting on the character arcs and dialogue that shape the series. The result? A performance grounded in grit and authenticity, powered by Tommy Norris’ no-BS monologues and straight-shooting style.

Looking ahead, Thornton teased a deeper dive into character dynamics. “This coming season, I think it’s a little more character based… we’re able to really let it breathe this year and get into these personal relationships a lot more,” he told Variety. With Sam Elliott and Andy Garcia joining the cast, Landman is poised to dig even deeper into the high-stakes oil world it’s built.

You can catch the first season of Landman with all 10 episodes exclusively streaming on Paramount+.

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