Billy Bob Thornton will appear in the new Taylor Sheridan series Landman, which premieres November 17 on Paramount+. For an Oscar winner, Billy Bob returns to television with a character that feels tailor-made for him. Based on the Boomtown podcast by Christian Wallace, the show explores the high-stakes world of the Texas oil industry, delving into the lives of oil tycoons, land brokers, and rig workers.
He stars in Blackwater as Tommy Norris, a “landman”-the middleman between the oil billionaires and the roughneck workers in this world. He makes his way through the threatening cartels, corporate pressure, and a shattered family life into which he brings humor, grit, and a touch of vulnerability. “It’s a role where I could put a lot of myself into it,” Thornton said, noting that Sheridan specifically wrote the character with him in mind.
The series alternates between the polished boardrooms of the wealthy elite and the dusty, dangerous oil rigs where workers risk their lives. Thornton, who performed scenes near live oil explosions, noted the realism of the show. “It’s not fun being that close to fire,” he said. “But it gives you a real appreciation for the risks in this industry.”
Striding in with him are Jon Hamm as a high-octane oil executive, Demi Moore as Hamm’s wife, and Ali Larter as Norris’s ex-wife. Michelle Randolph and Jacob Lofland also shine playing Norris’s children, adding depth to a storyline that blends family drama with industry intrigue.
Thornton has directed Sling Blade and Goliath recently, but Landman is a more complex landscape of his beloved comfort. This story of power, family, and the relentless chase of fortune will be a stunner for all fans of Sheridan’s Yellowstone universe.
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