‘Landman’ James Jordan Says Working With Billy Bob Thornton & Sam Elliott Changed Everything — Here’s Why

If there is one thing that Taylor Sheridan is going to do, it’s going to keep casting around that makes a meaningful impact on set. In his hit TV series, we often see actors from one cast overlap into another. We’ve seen it with Michelle Randolph, who starred in 1883 before taking on the role of Ainsley Norris in Landman. But there is one actor whom Taylor Sheridan consistently brings back, actor James Jordan. Jordan has appeared in many series. Jordan starred as Steve Hendon on Yellowstone, Ed on Mayor of Kingstown, Cookie on 1883, Two Cups on Lioness, and, most recently, as Dale on Landman. And that’s not even talking about the Sheridan movies he’s been in. Wind River, Those Who Wish Me Dead… one might assume he’s Taylor Sheridan’s best friend, but even if he isn’t, he’s clearly one of Taylor Sheridan’s go-to actors.

Jordan has worked with some famous actors and actresses on sets he’s been on, but during a recent sit-down interview with Josh Horowitz for Peak Talk, he shared that working with Billy Bob Thornton and Sam Elliott has been an experience unlike any other. It’s a sentiment that has been echoed by many who have the privilege of working with them. During Jordan’s conversation, the two discussed many memorable moments from the first and second seasons on set, but a standout moment was when Jordan shared that working with Thornton and Elliott is a dream come true for the Midwestern native.

“I had a scene the other day. It was me, Billy Bob Thornton, and Sam Elliott. And I’m literally having this scene, it’s the three of us, and I said after a take, I looked at both of them…And of course they’re pros, right? They’re just like, ‘Yep, that’s done. You know we’re going to sit here and wait for the next setup.’ And I’m like—I said out loud to Sam Elliott and Billy Bob Thornton, I said, ‘I cannot believe I’m standing here right with you two acting.’  I grew up in small town Missouri, watching their movies and watching them do it. And then Sam Elliott looks to me and goes, ‘Well, we’re lucky that you’re here, buddy.’ And that’s really how Sam and Billy are. They disarm you. They open you up as an actor. All you want to do is your best work every day. You want to come prepared. They both are always so prepared, always so open to collaboration. It’s the best experience, and every experience has been a blessing, but ‘Landman’ has been the best experience I’ve ever had.”

I can only imagine what it’s like to be on set with these two legendary actors. But James Jordan is selling himself short here a little too… You don’t become someone Taylor Sheridan calls on often by luck. He’s one helluva an actor, too, proving he’s got the grit to play a wide variety of characters.

Jordan’s statements are right in line with the praise the rest of the Landman cast has for Sam Elliott. Kayla Wallace, who plays lawyer Rebecca Falcone, told People that Elliott “never leaves” the set, even if they’re working on a scene he isn’t in. She says he still comes in early, finds somewhere out of the way to sit, and just takes it all in. She notes that he’s “not fussy” at all, which seems like it wouldn’t be the norm for someone as respected and accomplished as Elliott:

“He never leaves. Even if he’s not in a scene, he shows up early to set. He’ll find a place to sit — a bench, an apple box, whatever. He’s not fussy. [He’s] just happy to sit there and be a part of it and watch all of us perform. It’s really cool.”

Colm Feore, who plays MTex lawyer Nathan, says it’s given all of the actors a sense of support that is pretty rare on TV sets, though he admits that it does “up the stakes” having Elliott there because obviously you don’t want to mess up in front of him:

“The support, there’s really that feeling of a remarkable ensemble, a company of support. It does up the [stakes] when you’re trying not to suck, right?”

Jacob Lofland, who plays Tommy and Angela’s son Cooper, had similar praise for the two acting icons:

“The way they work, their ethic and their attitude. I think that teaches more and speaks more than any piece of advice they could ever give. Sam and Billy, they’re so prepared, so professional. You never wait on them. They’re never the reason that we’re running three minutes behind. Everyone’s ready to go, and they’re so polite and humble, willing to work through and take the time… Those guys are so good at that, that’s probably the most impactful thing for me.”

As for Elliott himself, he previously told the outlet that it has been “a real gift” to join the Landman cast, because he loves Taylor Sheridan’s work, and of course, the opportunity to work with Billy Bob Thornton again:

“That’s my favorite word in relation to all of this stuff — whether it’s this show or anything else that Taylor does, basically. Having an opportunity to work with Billy again — we’ve only worked [together] briefly, a couple of times — and this time we’re in deep, and it’s just a treat to go to work and be with him.”

Sam Elliott and Billy Bob Thornton sure do make magic together on screen. During the latest episode of Landman, fans were once again touched by an emotionally raw performance from both actors, and it appears these two men are helping each other heal in some way.