Billy Bob Thornton Reveals Why Working With Taylor Sheridan Is Always a Surprising Experience

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Taylor Sheridan has gained widespread acclaim for his inventive work, as numerous television series in recent times have achieved significant popularity on our screens. Notably, the experienced actor had a role in two of Sheridan’s productions, providing him with firsthand experience of collaborating with this esteemed creator.

Previously, Thornton was featured in the prequel series of “Yellowstone” titled “1883“. Currently, he headlines the popular Paramount+ show, which is co-created by Taylor Sheridan and Christian Wallace. Lately, Thornton shared his experiences working with Sheridan on these projects. He mentioned that while Sheridan generally dislikes improvisation, occasionally, Thornton might propose an idea that could be adopted. However, he emphasized that such instances are rare, as he’s often satisfied with the quality of Sheridan’s writing alone.

Thornton shared that working with Sheridan was terrific. He praised Taylor’s scriptwriting, noting its tight structure but also mentioned that Taylor allowed for a fair amount of creative freedom. In other words, there wasn’t much room for improvisation in Taylor’s work. Interestingly, Taylor and the Coen brothers, whom Thornton had collaborated with before, tended to stick closely to their scripts compared to others he had worked with. However, Taylor encouraged Thornton to contribute ideas here and there, stating that as a writer and director, Thornton understood the material well. So, occasionally, Thornton would add something new, and if Taylor approved, it would stay. Despite this, Taylor’s writing was so strong that Thornton rarely felt the need to deviate from it.

The series “Landman” unfolds in the expansive West Texas landscape, with Thornton portraying Tommy Norris, a high-ranking petroleum Landman and Operations Vice President at an oil corporation. In addition to Thornton, the cast includes Demi Moore, Jon Hamm, Ali Larter, Jacob Lofland, Michelle Randolph, Paulina Chavez, Kayla Wallace, Mark Collie, and James Jordan.

A Second Season Is Currently Filming

The first season of Landman premiered on Paramount+ in November 2024, and concluded its 10-episode run in January. In March, it was confirmed that the show had been renewed for another season. Filming for Season 2 has already started, and Thornton provided an update on how things are going. Thornton is particularly pleased with the progress of Landman Season 2, both in front of and behind the camera.

He’s been working on set for roughly six weeks now, and he’s absolutely enjoying the experience. The connections among the cast are deepening, and they’re all meshing together wonderfully. Each day, it feels more authentic, which makes him incredibly content. This season focuses heavily on relationships, and he’s thrilled about that aspect.

Landman is streaming on Paramount+.

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2025-05-19 07:11