Taylor Sheridan’s Yeehawniverseis continuing to grow, this time with the addition ofLandmanto his stable. The latest Western to come from the acclaimed writer,Landman— which starsBilly Bob Thornton, Demi Moore,andJon Hamm— features Thornton as a crisis manager in the oil industry, tackling life-or-death challenges in the harsh desert scrubland of West Texas. In an exclusive first look at the series fromVanity Fair, Thornton revealed that filming the series last summer pushed the entire team to their limits. He said:
“There were days when I thought, not only me, but everybody on the crew was going to pass out. It was so hot some days, and we’re shooting out at these oil pumpjacks. Do you know what caliche is? We’re on these caliche roads with rocks in them, and I’m wearing cowboy boots, running to the truck. It’s a hundred degrees with a hundred percent humidity. Jesus Christ, I’m in my 60s! This just sucks. My God, there were days when it was pretty hard. This was probably the hardest thing I ever did.”
Despite the harsh conditions, Thornton found working with Sheridan to be immensely rewarding. Sheridan’s intense dialogue and unforgettable characters have consistently attracted top-tier talent to endure such challenges, as seen inYellowstoneand its spin-offs like1883and1923, as well as other series likeTulsa King,Mayor of Kingstown,Lawmen: Bass Reeves, andSpecial Ops: Lioness.
Who Are the Main Characters in ‘Landman’?
Landman, adapted by Sheridan from journalistChristian Wallace’s popular 2019 podcastBoomtown, assembled a stellar cast with Hamm playing an independent oil baron, Moore as his strategic wife, andAli Larteras Thornton’s free-spirited ex.Moore committed to multiple seasonsbased on Sheridan’s proven track record. “He thinks way ahead. He’s thinking through not just one season. He’s thinking through an epic story,” said Moore.
Moore’s character, Cami, is described as the driving force behindHamm’s Monty Miller, who rose from an oil speculator to a powerful figure,while Thornton’s Tommy Norris, once Monty’s partner, now works tirelessly for him after facing setbacks. Moore notes, “Cami is somebody who is not involved in the business but is running their entire life. They’re a couple that built this entire empire and family together.”
Unlike the morally ambiguous characters Hammand Thornton have played in the past, Monty Miller strives to be both honorable and formidable. Thornton’s character, Tommy, is a man whose life is in shambles, yet he remains a crucial fixer for the oil empire. “I’m a fixer and a foreman. Even though I work with the head guy, I also work very closely with the people out in the field,” Thornton explains.
By the sounds of things,Landmanis set to be another fine addition to Sheridan’s portfolio, and with its big names and intriguing hook, could be the next thing Paramount needs post-Yellowstone. Stay tuned to Collider for more.
In the rugged terrain of West Texas, a team of landmen work to secure oil and gas leases, acting as intermediaries between landowners and energy corporations. The narrative centers on a driven landman whose ambitions in the energy sector lead him into complex negotiations and moral quandaries. The show explores the intense competition and the far-reaching consequences of the landmen’s deals, highlighting the intersection of personal ambition and the broader effects on the community and the natural world.
