Oscar-winning actor Billy Bob Thornton joined “CBS Mornings” to discuss his new role in “Landman,” the latest Paramount Plus series from ““Yellowstone” creator Taylor Sheridan. Thornton plays Tommy Norris, a man charged with managing the land and people in the oil-rich landscape of West Texas.
Thornton’s character works in the world of oil rigs, securing land and overseeing everyone from the workers to the billionaires who fuel the oil industry. The role was created with Thornton in mind since Sheridan wrote the role specifically for him.
“He said, ‘I’ll write it in your voice.’ So when I read the first script, of course, it’s like if I was an earthling, I think I would try to be like that,” Thornton said.
Thornton said he prefers to stick to roles that suit his strengths.
“I don’t accept things I’m not cut out for,” Thornton said. “If I read something and it fits me like a glove, then those are the things I do if the subject interests me.”
When it comes to describing what a landman is, Thornton said a landman is a middleman between the owners of the oil companies and the workers in the fields. His job is to protect the workers while making sure they complete their oil extraction tasks because he needs to make money for his employer.
“The show is really about how people who work in and around the oil business are affected, how relationships are affected. It’s a dangerous profession, and it’s also a gamble,” Thornton said.
“Landman” premieres Sunday, November 17, exclusively on Paramount+.
