Billy Bob Thornton has spoken out about Sam Elliott, who plays his father in The Landman, despite the two being only 11 years apart in age.
Thornton, 70, attended the Newport Beach TV Fest hosted by Visit Newport Beach on Saturday, June 6, and exclusively told Us Weekly, “It’s been going on since the beginning of movies.”
The actor recalled having similar experiences in other films, adding, “Kathy Bates played my mother in ‘Bad Santa,’ and she’s nine years older. This is acting, this is film.”
Thornton continued: “Let’s say it’s not in the newspaper or on Wikipedia. No matter how old someone is, no one will say anything.”
Landman introduced Thornton as Tommy, a corporate fixer working for an oil giant (Jon Hamm), and built up the promise of a plot twist. In the season finale, Hamm’s Monty is murdered and Tommy is kidnapped by the drug cartel leader and installed as president of M-Tex before being brutally assaulted. Tommy is eventually released on a promise to cooperate with the cartel.
Season 2 added more Cami, played by Demi Moore, to the mix, bringing big changes to the story and raising the stakes even more. Elsewhere in the show, Ali Larter’s Angela, Jacob Lofland’s Cooper, Michelle Randolph’s Ainsley and others are at the center of their own dramas.
After Landman’s unexpected on-screen loss, Thornton spoke about whether Tommy could be next.
There were some shocking developments for Taylor Sheridan’s Landman, but what will happen in Season 3 after Demi Moore’s Cami fires Billy Bob Thornton’s Tommy? “The Landman,” which premiered in November 2024, is Sheridan’s latest hit series, joining “Yellowstone,” “The Mayor of Kingstown,” “Tulsa King,” “Lawmen: Bass Reeves” and “The Lioness.” Based on (…)
“I thinkYana GrebenyukTaylor[Sheridan]will let me hang around,” he told Us, hinting that his character won’t be written off just yet.
Thornton continued to express support for Sheridan’s work, once again taking the opportunity to defend the prolific producer’s lack of recognition on awards shows.
“It’s like, ‘If you disagree with somebody’s style or tone or whatever, that’s not the problem,'” he noted. “The important thing is, is he good? He writes great work.”
Thornton continued, “He’s built quite an empire, and you have to respect him for that. He’s got a reputation, he’s had success, and he definitely deserves recognition for his work on television.”
Landman is streaming on Paramount+.
