Landman Season 2 powerhouses Billy Bob Thornton and Sam Elliott open up about collaborating with each other 

Landman season 2 is officially in the making, and many viewers are excited to see Billy Bob Thornton and Sam Elliott share the screen. The show, created by Taylor Sheridan, came back to Paramount+ almost exactly one year after the first season. This new season begins right after the dramatic ending of Season 1, and it brings many fresh storylines for the characters.

One of the biggest changes is that Billy Bob Thornton's character, Tommy Norris, is now the president of M-Tex Oil. This puts him in a very grave role at work, and his home life is also becoming more complicated. His daughter Ainsley is going to college, his relationship with his wife is still rocky, and now his father, played by Sam Elliott, is moving in with him.

Thornton and Elliott spoke about Landman Season 2 in an interview with TheWrap, and they shared simple and honest thoughts about acting together. They also talked about what fans can expect from the new season.

From the very beginning of Landman Season 2, Tommy is pulled in many directions. At work, he faces pressure from every side of the oil industry. At home, he must deal with personal worries and a tense family history. When his father arrives, it brings old issues back to the surface. Thornton explained,

"Sam puts it best, we start the season when Pop comes home, with a very fractured relationship. It’s just a process of what we go through to try to mend it … or whatever happens."

This emotional shift is one of the strongest parts of the new season.

Elliott also spoke about why he chose to join the show. He said he was not persuaded by anyone else. He simply enjoyed working with Taylor Sheridan in the past and felt that this new role was another good chance to continue that creative partnership. Elliott praised Sheridan’s writing and said,

"It’s just a joy to go to work, and the opportunity to work with this guy sitting next to me, it doesn’t get any better than this"

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Billy Bob Thornton and Sam Elliott on working together on a tough father-son story in Landman Season 2

One of the biggest emotional threads of Landman Season 2 is the relationship between Tommy Norris and his father. Elliott plays a character who carries many dark memories and emotional wounds. He said his character starts Landman Season 2 in a very heavy place and stays there for much of the story. But Elliott also said that the journey slowly moves toward healing. Even though his character never fully escapes the pain, he does take steps forward, and that slow growth is important to the season.

Thornton added that this father-son relationship shapes many of Tommy's choices. Tommy is under stress at home and at work, and the arrival of his father adds more weight to his already full plate. Thornton joked that Tommy gets "no whistle blowing at the end of the day," meaning there is no break for him. Everything feels nonstop.

Elliott also spoke about the writing and the emotional depth of the scenes between him and Thornton. He said,

"He’s still in a hole and I never get out of it, and it’s a real emotional dark spot for most of the trip for this character this season, but to get to play it out with Billy and the rest of the cast is really special."

He pointed out one scene involving a speech about the sunset, saying that it fits his character's connection to the outdoors and the land. Elliott said that moments like this show how strong Sheridan's writing is and how grateful he feels to work with material that has real heart.

"It just speaks to what a great writer Taylor is. It’s such a gift to have that material and to be able to deal with Billy."

Even though the relationship between their characters is painful, Elliott said acting with Thornton and the rest of the cast is "nothing but fun." He described the cast as incredible and praised the experience of playing such a wide emotional range in this Landman Season 2.

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Landman Season 2 expands the story and looks toward the future

While the emotional father-son story is a major part of Landman Season 2, there is also a lot happening in the world of M-Tex Oil. Thornton’s character must deal with the pressures of leading a major company in a complicated industry. The oil business has many powerful people, and Tommy must navigate problems that grow larger as the season continues. Thornton said that actors always hope for characters with real challenges, because it makes the work more interesting. For him, Landman Season 2 provides those challenges in a big way.

Elliott said that although he has a character with a heavy emotional storyline, being in such a big cast and such a crazy world makes it all exciting. He doesn't use much oil-field jargon in those scenes, but he noted that his character does have a background in oil. That adds a dimension to the father-son tension and provides context for their scenes.

Both actors said they were excited to see how fans would react to the new season. Thornton also said,

"And like Sam was saying earlier, we’re just like the audience is, looking forward to watching this season. We’re looking forward to making Season 3 too."

He remarked that, just like the audience, the cast is also looking forward to seeing the story unfold.

Landman Season 2 presents growth, conflict, and change for many characters, particularly Tommy and his father. The complex relationship between them lies at the center of the story and is what gives the season its emotional heft. The second season builds on the success of the first, thanks to great writing from Taylor Sheridan and emotional portrayals from the cast.

Also Read: Landman Season 2: Who is Tommy’s mom, details explored