In this week’s episode of Bingeworthy, host Mike DeAngelo gets his hands dirty while discussing the gritty Paramount+ drama “Landman.” Co-created by Christian Wallace and Taylor Sheridan (“Yellowstone,” ”1883,” “Mayor of Kingstown”), the series dives into the world of West Texas oilfields where roughnecks, wildcat billionaires, and corporate interests collide. Starring Billy Bob Thornton, Jon Hamm, Demi Moore, Ali Larter, and more, the show captures a boom so big it’s reshaping everything from local economies to geopolitics.
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Joining the podcast are Christian Wallace, the showrunner and co-creator whose podcast “Boomtown” inspired the series, and Billy Bob Thornton, who stars as Tommy Norris, a brash and seasoned landman navigating the dangerous and volatile oil industry.
During the interview, Wallace shared how “Landman” grew out of his life experiences and his 2019 podcast, which chronicled the oil boom in the Permian Basin. What began as a niche story quickly drew widespread attention and eventually caught the eye of Taylor Sheridan.
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“Taylor and his producing partner, David Glasser, acquired the rights,” Wallace said. “We spent about two years talking about characters, stories, different things. At one point, [Taylor] asked me to write a spec script, and a couple of weeks later, he called me and said, ‘Well, buddy, I think this is going to work.’”
Wallace expressed gratitude for Sheridan’s collaborative approach, which saw him elevated to co-creator and executive producer.
“Taylor could have just taken the rights, and I would have seen the show when everyone else did,” Wallace admitted. “Instead, I was on set every single day from the first day of shooting to the wrap, learning a ton and answering questions like, ‘How do you say that word?’ It’s Pecos, not Pecos.”
A key aspect of “Landman” is its authenticity, which includes filming entirely on location in Texas. Wallace emphasized how essential this was to the show’s DNA.
“Every single frame was shot in Texas,” Wallace said. “We used Fort Worth as a home base, but we were out in Midland Odessa, all around West Texas, and even the middle-of-nowhere countryside. It couldn’t have been anywhere else.”
Thornton, known for balancing gritty character work with natural humor, praised Taylor Sheridan’s ability to deliver quality at an impossible pace.
“Nobody knows how he does it,” Thornton said. “We’d be talking about ‘Landman,’ and then he’d get a call about a horse on the Four Sixes Ranch or something happening on ‘Mayor of Kingstown.’ He’s a machine.”
Despite Sheridan’s prolific nature, Thornton described their working relationship as smooth and unforced.
“He doesn’t necessarily do a bunch of rehearsals, which I love,” Thornton said. “His scripts are very good, so you don’t have to change much. But by nature, I’ll say something or do something in the moment. If he likes it, he keeps it. If he doesn’t, he doesn’t. That’s fair.”
Wallace echoed Thornton’s sentiments, particularly when it came to the show’s ensemble cast, which includes Jon Hamm, Ali Larter, and rising talents like Jacob Lofland and Michelle Randolph.
“We had Billy Bob from the start, but the rest of the cast just kept coming,” Wallace said. “It’s all thanks to Taylor. Talent trusts him to tell a good story, and they want to be part of that.”
Thornton shared how the show’s grounded realism stems from Wallace’s deep connection to the oilfield business.
“Christian was on set to explain everything,” Thornton said. “I didn’t want to get too heady about it—I just wanted to play the guy. But when you’re saying technical jargon, you need to know what it means, or audiences will pick up on it.”
The stakes in “Landman” are high, both narratively and thematically. While the show takes creative liberties for dramatic effect, Wallace revealed that many plot points, including cartel activity and accidents, are grounded in reality.
“Cartels landing planes on rural oilfield roads? That’s real,” Wallace said. “It might seem embellished, but it’s based on truth.”
Both Wallace and Thornton expressed hope for future seasons, with Wallace teasing the rich storytelling potential of the world they’ve created.
“There’s so much more to explore,” Wallace said. “This show feels unique, and I’d love the chance to keep telling this story.”
“Landman” is streaming exclusively on Paramount+. You can listen to the full interviews with Christian Wallace and Billy Bob Thornton on this week’s episode of Bingeworthy.
The Playlist Presents – Christian Wallace & Billy Bob Thornton’s Film/TV Recommendation Playlist:
Christian Wallace’s Picks:
- “Friday Night Lights” (2004) – Directed by Peter Berg
- “Hell or High Water” (2016) – Directed by David Mackenzie
Billy Bob Thornton’s Picks:
- “Giant” (1956) – Directed by George Stevens
- “High Noon” (1952) – Directed by Fred Zinnemann
- “The Verdict” (1982) – Directed by Sidney Lumet
- “A Face in the Crowd” (1957) – Directed by Elia Kazan
- “The Andy Griffith Show” (1960–1968) – Created by Sheldon Leonard, Danny Thomas, and Arthur Stander
- “Perry Mason” (1957–1966) – Created by Erle Stanley Gardner
