Oscar-winning actor Billy Bob Thornton He joined “CBS Mornings” to discuss his new role in the latest Paramount Plus series, “Landman.”“Yellowstone” Founder Taylor Sheridan. Thornton plays Tommy Norris, a man tasked with managing the land and people in the oil-rich region of West Texas.
Thornton’s character works in the world of oil rigs, overseeing everyone from laborers to billionaires who secure land and fuel the oil industry. The role was created with Thornton in mind, as Sheridan wrote the role specifically for Thornton.
“He said, ‘I’ll write it in your voice.’” So when I read the first script, of course I thought, ‘If I were a land person, I would try to be that,’” Thornton said.
Thornton said he prefers to stick to roles that are within his strengths.
Thornton said, “I don’t accept anything that doesn’t suit me. If I read something and it fits like a glove, if I’m interested in the subject, I do that.”
When explaining what a landman is, Thornton said that landmen are intermediaries between oil company owners and field workers. His job is to protect the workers because they have to make money for their employers, while at the same time ensuring they do the work of extracting oil.
“The show is about people in the oil business and how relationships are affected. It’s a risky business and a gamble,” Thornton said.
“Landman” premieres Sunday, November 17 exclusively on Paramount+.
