When Sam Elliott was cast as Billy Bob Thornton’s father in Landman Season 2, the veteran actor admits one detail caught him off guard. At 81, Elliott is only 11 years older than Thornton — but in Taylor Sheridan’s sprawling West Texas universe, the dynamic still works.
Created by Sheridan and Christian Wallace, Landman stars Thornton as Tommy Norris, a tough but morally conflicted oil landman trying to balance the high-stakes world of Texas drilling with an even more volatile personal life. Elliott joins as T.L. Norris, Tommy’s father. The series, which returns for its second season on November 16 on Paramount+, also features Demi Moore, Andy Garcia, Ali Larter, Jacob Lofland, Michelle Randolph, Kayla Wallace, Colm Feore, and Mark Collie. Elliott didn’t hesitate when the offer came through — and it wasn’t just because of his fondness for Sheridan’s writing, as he said in a new interview.
“Particularly if it’s an opportunity to work with Billy. I’ve known Billy for a long, long time. We worked briefly a couple of times. Having an opportunity to come and see him on a daily basis and try to do something special with Taylor’s work together — it’s just a great opportunity. A real gift.”
Elliott previously collaborated with Sheridan on 1883, the Yellowstone prequel that earned him widespread praise. The actor has since become one of the filmmaker’s go-to stars for his projects, drawn to Sheridan’s authenticity and respect for character. And you can tell Elliott loves the idea of Landman.
“It’s got all the elements. It’s got humor. It’s got drama. It’s got reality. It’s got Taylor Sheridan all over it. Taylor tells the truth… He knows about different subjects that interest people. It’s well-written and well-grounded stuff. There’s a gifted bunch of people who have the opportunity to say Taylor’s words, and I think it’s a lot of fun for the audience.”
Thornton, who has described Landman as one of his most personal projects, echoed Elliott’s praise for Sheridan’s writing.
“Taylor writes great stories. He writes truth. I think it’s because the characters are unabashedly who they are — good or bad. People want to see that. They want to see people being 100% of who they are… and be honest with it. People like that about the show.”
Since its debut last November, Landman has become one of Paramount+’s biggest hits — a mix of realism, Texas swagger, and quite surprising raucous humor that’s earned critical acclaim and a huge viewership. “I believed it was going to be a hit,” said co-star Mark Collie (Sheriff Walt Joeberg). “But I don’t think anyone was prepared for the kind of response that it’s received.”
What Can We Expect from ‘Landman’ Season 2?
Season 1 established Tommy Norris as a man constantly walking the line between right and wrong — fighting drug cartels, oil field corruption, and his own demons. Season 2 will peel back those layers, revealing Tommy’s vulnerabilities and his fractured relationship with his father, T.L.
“You see that Tommy actually wants to be a good father,” Thornton teased. “He wants to have a father. You see all of it. It’s a very emotional season in a lot of ways — but still with a lot of humor.”
That humor, he adds, often comes from Tommy’s fiery relationship with his ex-wife Angela, played by Ali Larter. “It’s a logistical nightmare for the prop department, but we’re fine,” he joked. “We go have a donut. I’ve enjoyed every family dinner — even though as a character, I don’t.”
Landman Season 2 premieres November 16 on Paramount+.
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