Summary:
- Landman premiered on November 17, 2024, on Paramount+, with new episodes every Sunday.
- Created by Taylor Sheridan, the show is based on the Boomtown podcast.
- It explores the high-stakes world of the West Texas oil industry through the eyes of Billy Bob Thornton‘s character, Tommy Norris.
- The series offers a dramatic look at oil tycoons, environmental dilemmas, and personal struggles in a booming industry.
Landman, the newest series from Taylor Sheridan, shifts its focus from the ranches of Yellowstone to the oil fields of West Texas. Featuring an all-star cast, including Billy Bob Thornton and Jon Hamm, the show dives into the fast-paced, perilous world of oil drilling, land negotiations, and industry power dynamics. With a storyline rooted in real-life events, Landman brings a unique perspective to modern-day resource exploitation.
What Is Landman About?
Landman follows Tommy Norris (Billy Bob Thornton), a crisis executive at M-TEX Oil, whose job involves securing mineral rights, negotiating leases, and managing the volatile dynamics of the oil industry. His boss, Monty Miller (Jon Hamm), is a high-powered oil tycoon who demands results, while Tommy’s personal life—including his relationships with his ex-wife, Angela Norris (Ali Larter), and teenage daughter Ainsley Norris (Michelle Randolph)—complicates his challenges.
- Key Themes:
The series addresses the high risks of the oil business, as seen in the opening episode’s dramatic cartel encounter, while also examining environmental and legal challenges.
It portrays the human costs of an industry generating over $4 trillion annually, spotlighting the intricate relationships between corporations, workers, and landowners. - Inspiration from Real Life:
Landman is based on the 2019 podcast Boomtown, which delves into the oil boom in West Texas’ Permian Basin. The podcast’s host, Christian Wallace, contributed to the show’s development, ensuring an authentic portrayal of life in the oil fields.
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Cast and Characters in Landman
Landman boasts a compelling ensemble cast that enhances its narrative depth:
- Tommy Norris (Billy Bob Thornton): A charismatic yet complex negotiator balancing professional and personal turmoil.
- Monty Miller (Jon Hamm): A demanding oil magnate whose ambitions drive the plot’s tension.
- Cami Miller (Demi Moore): Monty’s wife, who provides a nuanced view of family amidst corporate pressure.
- Angela Norris (Ali Larter): Tommy’s ex-wife, whose dynamic personality adds depth to family drama.
- Ainsley Norris (Michelle Randolph): Tommy’s strong-willed daughter, representing generational challenges.
- Rebecca Savage (Kayla Wallace): A corporate lawyer investigating Tommy’s work, injecting legal and environmental angles into the story.
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How Does Landman Compare to Yellowstone?
Both shows, created by Taylor Sheridan, share overarching themes but diverge in tone and scope:
- Industry Focus:
- Yellowstone centers on ranching and land disputes in Montana.
- Landman explores the oil industry’s economic impact and environmental consequences.
- Character Depth:
- Landman’s Tommy Norris offers a more relatable, humorous approach compared to Yellowstone’s stoic John Dutton (Kevin Costner).
- Critics note that Landman’s supporting cast roles, while promising, feel underdeveloped in early episodes.
- Narrative Style:
- Yellowstone often leans into melodrama with sprawling storylines.
- Landman opts for tighter pacing and integrates humor amidst its high-stakes drama.
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The Real-Life Story Behind Landman
Landman draws heavily from the Texas Monthly podcast Boomtown, created by Christian Wallace, who also co-created the series with Taylor Sheridan. The podcast chronicles the 2019 oil boom in the Permian Basin, one of the largest and most productive oil fields in the world, spanning West Texas and southeastern New Mexico. Wallace, a native of West Texas and a former roughneck (oil rig worker) used his personal experiences and journalistic expertise to paint a vivid picture of life during this transformative period.
How Boomtown Shaped Landman
Wallace’s work on Boomtown was grounded in authentic stories from various individuals affected by the oil boom, including:
- Roughnecks: Workers who endure harsh conditions and risk their lives on rigs to extract oil.
- Ranchers: Landowners grappling with the environmental impact of drilling on their properties and dealing with the legalities of mineral rights.
- Educators and Community Members: Teachers at overcrowded schools and residents adapting to rapid population growth and infrastructure challenges brought on by the oil boom.
In the podcast, Wallace interviewed people across the social spectrum, from industry executives to everyday laborers, capturing the nuanced realities of life in an oil boomtown. These elements are woven into Landman, offering a fictionalized but grounded portrayal of the high stakes and human drama in the oil industry.
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When and Where to Watch Landman
- Premiere Date: November 17, 2024.
- Streaming: Exclusively on Paramount+.
- Release Schedule:
- Episodes 1 & 2 debuted on November 17.
- New episodes drop weekly on Sundays, concluding with Episode 10 on January 12, 2025.
Source: People
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