The future of 'Landman' is the hot topic, with Taylor Sheridan's upcoming departure from Paramount sparking curiosity. What does this mean for the hit series? Let's dive in!
Recently, The Hollywood Reporter shed light on Taylor Sheridan, the co-creator and writer of 'Landman,' and his move from Paramount to NBCUniversal. This deal includes a film agreement slated to kick off next year. However, his TV deal with Paramount extends until the end of 2028, after which he'll transition to NBCUniversal.
During the premiere of 'Landman's' second season on Paramount+, Billy Bob Thornton, who plays oil crisis manager Tommy Norris, shared his perspective on Sheridan's shift. He mentioned, "I think the shows that are at Paramount, stay at Paramount, so I don’t think those are affected." He added, "His deal is for the future. And who knows what that holds. Taylor is a brilliant guy, and I’m sure wherever he goes, whatever he does is, gonna be successful, at least I know it’ll be real.”
Sam Elliott, who joins 'Landman' this season as T.L., Tommy's father, echoed Thornton's sentiments. He stated, "It’s not gonna impact the future of this series because everything that Taylor had at Paramount is gonna stay at Paramount. It’s not like he’s taking it there. The Universal thing, as I understand, it’s a whole new deal, so it’s just great for Taylor’s world. I think it’s fantastic.”
But here's where it gets interesting: The first season of 'Landman' premiered last November, attracting a whopping 5.2 million viewers. This marked the top debut for a Paramount+ series in two years, following Sheridan's '1923,' which drew 7.4 million viewers across platforms in December 2022. Thornton also discussed the pressure to maintain the show's success.
"Anytime you have a success and it’s gonna continue, there’s always pressure to make sure that it continues," he explained. "If you’re making movies you do a sequel, always pressure. So, we felt it, but once you start, you just have to forget that and go out there and do your job.”
Michelle Randolph, who plays Ainsley Norris, Thornton's TV daughter, believes 'Landman' has a long future ahead. "There’s so many stories to tell. There’s so many really distinct characters, I feel like we could go on and on and on because what I always have to remind myself — the first season was 10 days in the show so I’m like, we could film the show for so long because it’s not like it’s one season, taking place over a year or anything," she said. "There’s so much room for growth in every single character; they’re all deeply flawed in their own ways, which is what makes them really enticing to watch because it’s very human.”
Randolph also shared her experience welcoming Demi Moore back to the cast, this time with a more significant role. "I love working with Demi. And also, Pilaf was on set, her cute little dog,” she said. “Horoscope-wise, it was the luckiest day of the year, everyone kept telling me, and I was on set with Demi, Sam Elliott, Andy Garcia, Billy Bob, Ali Larter — I just had to pinch myself.”
So, what do you think? Will Sheridan's move affect the future of 'Landman'? Do you agree with the cast's optimistic outlook? Share your thoughts in the comments below! And don't forget, 'Landman' season two premieres on Paramount+ on November 16th!
