Review
Billy Bob Thornton shared his humorous reaction to Taylor Sheridan casting him in Landman. Thornton is Landman‘s series lead as Tommy Norris, the titular fixer for West Texas’ M-TEX Oil corporation. The Norris family also filled out the Landman season 1’s cast, with Ali Larter as Angela, Michelle Randolph as Ainsley, and Jacob Lofland as Cooper. A massive global hit for Paramount+, Landman season 2 is in production to premiere in November 2025.
Billy Bob Thornton joined his co-stars Ali Larter, Jacob Lofland, and Andy Garcia at Newport Beach TV Fest’s Landman — Outstanding Drama Series panel. Thornton shared his story about being cast in the oil drama, saying about his initial response to the script, “I like this. I like it very much.” Thornton described how his role as Jim Courtright in Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone prequel, 1883, led to his casting. Read Thornton’s full comment below:
Taylor called me, and he said, ‘I’m doing this show 1883. We’re already in the process. I had written this cameo, and once I wrote it, I decided that I needed you to come do it because you need to go into a saloon and kill six guys in about four-and-a-half seconds, and I’ve seen you do that type of thing, so come down.’
So I did. When they had the premiere in Las Vegas, they wanted me to come. I went there and had dinner with Taylor after, and he said, ‘I’m writing this thing in your voice, centered around you. It’s about a look behind the curtain at the oil business in West Texas.’ And he already had the title and everything. [He] sent me the first couple of scripts, and I said, ‘I like this. I like it very much.’ His writing was pretty brilliant, and it was pretty easy to say yes to it.
And I’d done a lot of big things before that. I did Chopper Chicks in Zombie Town. [Landman] was a step down, but I decided to do it. But yeah, it was wonderful, and we had an amazing time making the first season, and we’re having an amazing time making season 2, which comes out in thirty minutes. No, I think later in the fall, sometime.
What Billy Bob Thornton’s Comments Mean For Landman
Thornton Confirmed Sheridan’s Unconventional Casting Process Applied To Landman
Billy Bob Thornton described how Taylor Sheridan excels in his casting, and Landman solidifies Sheridan’s ability to attract top talent for his parts, sometimes writing them exclusively for the stars he aims to cast. For instance, when selecting the cast of 1923, Sheridan flew Harrison Ford down to his ranch in Texas to convince him to take the part of Jacob Dutton. In the interview, Sheridan recounted telling Ford, “I need to know who I’m writing for.” Sheridan remarked that he “poured about two bottles of wine down [Ford]” to convince him to take the role (per Deadline).
Thornton’s story exemplifies Sheridan’s casting finesse in garnering big names to fill his productions.
Thornton’s story exemplifies Sheridan’s casting finesse in garnering big names to fill his productions, such as Landman, over dinners and glasses of wine. It sheds more light on Sheridan’s casting process and unconventional methods, as well as his desire to write character-driven shows around personalities that he has, often, hand-picked. The development suggests that Landman season 1 received the same treatment as Yellowstone, with Sheridan envisioning Thornton for the titular character and Landman’s writing convincing the Sling Blade actor to take the role.
Our Take On Billy Bob Thornton’s Landman Comments
There’s Momentum From Big Names Behind Taylor Sheridan’s Productions
Billy Bob Thornton’s remarks shed more light on the new phenomenon that is Landman, telling the story of how he became the most likable Landman character. Thornton’s role in 1883, his first stint in the Yellowstone franchise, which was relatively brief, led to his position in the oil drama’s leading role. I enjoyed hearing this detail, gaining a deeper appreciation for Taylor Sheridan’s casting process, knowing that there’s a story between Thornton’s role in 1883 and Landman, with one excellent performance leading to the next.
Thornton’s comments also confirm a trend: while Yellowstone and Sheridan’s other shows have controversial moments and storylines, they continue to be highly regarded by the actors he hires, who are among the biggest names in the industry. I was also excited to hear Thornton tease Landman season 2, which will debut in November alongside Beth and Rip’s Yellowstone spinoff on Paramount+. Landman’s cast appearing at Newport TV Fest signals the momentum behind the show’s second outing, which I hope will be just as compelling as the first.
Source: Newport Beach TV Fest, Deadline
Set in West Texas, this series explores the world of oil rigs and the fortunes they create. It portrays a modern upstairs/downstairs narrative of roughnecks and billionaires, highlighting the profound impact on the climate, economy, and geopolitics in these boomtowns.
