Billy Bob Thornton’s Tommy might be the face of MTex Oil, but someone else is about to make moves behind the scenes. Taylor Sheridan’s Landman is no stranger to power struggles, but as filming continues on Season 2, it turns out the real shift in influence might not come from the top of the corporate ladder — but from someone building their empire just outside of view.
In a new update, Landman co-creator and executive producer Christian Wallace teased that Tommy’s son, Cooper (played by Jacob Lofland), is becoming a formidable presence in West Texas’s cutthroat oil world. And he’s doing it the old-school way — one plot of land at a time.
“He’s just kind of going door-to-door and looking for these small, little parcels of land, these small leases,” Wallace said. “Even a company the size of MTex — which is a smaller independent compared to the BPs, Exxons, Chevrons of the world — they’re not worried about what he’s doing. Yet.”
What’s Next for Cooper Norris?
The “yet” does a lot of heavy lifting there. Cooper ended Season 1 on a high note, closing his first independent deal and finding a potential partner (romantic and professional) in Ariana, the widow of his late crew member. But Wallace suggests his honest, grounded approach — combined with his growing industry savvy — is already paying dividends.
“His honesty, his straight-shooting, his knowledge of the industry — especially for how young he is — that’s paying him dividends right now.” And while his father Tommy has just been elevated to CEO of MTex Oil, that may eventually create a tense dynamic between the two Norrises.
“It’s always cutthroat in the world of oil and gas exploration,” Wallace added, hinting that Tommy’s new position might not stop a potential future clash. “Everyone is always kind of keeping tabs on one another… they’re always looking for the next thing or what these guys might be doing.”
What makes Cooper’s rise interesting is how different his style is from his father’s. Tommy’s a bruiser — a guy who likes working the field, hates wearing suits, and rules by grit. Cooper, by contrast, seems to be building a network quietly, methodically, and with an eye for long-term plays. He’s not trying to be a king. But kings are born in stranger ways in Sheridan’s world.
Season 2 of Landman is still in production, with a release date yet to be announced.
