‘Landman’ Star Billy Bob Thornton Is in it for the Long Haul: ‘Taylor Has a Vision’

In 2021, Billy Bob Thornton had a brief cameo in an episode of “1883,” the hugely popular “Yellowstone” spinoff. That’s where he met Taylor Sheridan, whose vast television empire includes most of the shows people subscribe to Paramount+ for (including “Lioness,” “Mayor of Kingstown” and “Lawmen: Bass Reeves”). “He said, ‘I wrote this cameo and when I looked at it, I realized I can’t just cast a local. I need somebody who’s done this before in a bigger way,’” Thornton said. At the “1883” premiere in Las Vegas, Thornton and Sheridan sat together at the afterparty and Sheridan told him, “I’m writing this thing called ‘Landman’ for you and you’re going to love it.