‘Landman’ Star Andy Garcia Breaks Silence on What Working With Taylor Sheridan Is Really Like
Oscar nominee Andy Garcia is ready to step into a larger role in Paramount+’s Landman Season 2. As Gallino, the cartel head turned wannabe oil man, he is hell bent on infiltrating the Norris family. When Tommy Norris (Billy Bob Thornton) rejected his offer of partnership after Gallino saved his life, Gallino invested in Cooper Norris’ (Jacob Lofland) drilling venture and struck black gold. When asked why Gallino is suddenly interested in the old business, Garcia replied simply, “Money. Power. Diversification.”
Garcia is perfectly at home in the Taylor Sheridan universe, smoothly going toe-to-toe against Thornton as their characters dance for the upper hand. “When you have two characters who are really good at what they do in their own worlds, and you can match them intellectually, it creates scenes that are fun to watch.” Garcia, who compared meeting with Sheridan to “meeting with Shakespeare,” wasn’t worried about where Gallino’s arc would take him in Season 2. “I said, ‘I’m all in man, whatever you want to do. I’ve signed up for the long run.’”
Garcia revealed he first got to know co-star Thornton through their mutual friend, Robert Duvall. “We always had to have a party for him [when Duvall visited L.A] because he loved Cuban music and dance and stuff,” remembered Garcia. “He would bring Billy Bob to the parties.” Over the years, Thornton and Garcia have built their relationship. “I love Billy Bob, and I respect him immensely as a person and as an actor,” said Garcia. However, the dynamic between their Landman characters remains tense. “Whether their relationship goes the friendship route or the more antagonistic route remains to be seen.”
Garcia spoke to Decider during a junket about Gallino’s evolution in Season 2, about his favorites among Sheridan’s movies , and about what it was like to work with the great Demi Moore.
DECIDER: I went back and rewatched Gallino’s and Tommy’s meeting back in the Season 1 finale. Gallino is so smooth and unbothered. How was this character pitched to you?
ANDY GARCIA: He is smooth and unbothered. I met Taylor at his house in Fort Worth. He asked me to come out so he could tell me about a character he wanted to write for me. He was, you know, a fan [laughs], and I was already a fan of Taylor’s even before Yellowstone. I loved Hell Or High Water with Jeff Bridges. After I saw the movie, I said, “who was this writer, what’s going on?” Then I saw Sicario and I was like, “this guy can write!” The rest is history.
Taylor pitched this character of Gallino to me because he was a fan of a movie I did with Hal Ashby and Jeff Bridges called 8 Million Ways To Die. I played this crazy young kid who was also a killer in the movie. He told me that Gallino’s not that kid, but he’s a cartel guy. I go, “he’s a cartel guy in the Permian Basin?” He tried to explain to me what was going on, but I was already all in, even though there was nothing written yet. He just said, “I just want to create a character for you.” That’s like having a meeting with Shakespeare and him going, “I want to write a play with a character for you.” That’s the way I look at it.
And there seems to be this mutual respect between Tommy and Gallino. Can you speak to that dynamic?
Well, it starts with the mutual respect between Andy and Billy Bob. I love Billy Bob, and I respect him immensely as a person and as an actor. We have had a bit of a relationship over the years. Socially, we were introduced through Robert Duvall at parties and stuff. Bobby used to come when he came to L.A., and we always had to have a party for him because he loved Cuban music and dance and stuff. He would bring Billy Bob to the parties.
You know that saying, the better the parts, the better the whole? When you have two characters that are good at what they do in their own worlds, and you can match them intellectually, it only creates for scenes that are fun to watch. You’re able to build on that repartee and reach a higher level of connection between the two. Whether their relationship goes the friendship route or the more antagonistic route remains to be seen.
Why is Gallino looking to break into the oil business? Money. Power. Diversification. There’s a lot of money in oil. He also might want to be more legitimate on paper.
Last week, Gallino was introduced to Cami Miller by Tommy. What was your favorite part about working with Demi Moore? She’s amazing. We had a great time together. She’s a great actress, you know? I love the dynamic between our two characters. Like I said, with Taylor, you think the characters are going to be going a certain direction and then he flips the coin, and there’s you coming in from another direction. That was surprising to me when I saw the scripts for Season 2.
We had to wait a minute to see you in Season 2! Taylor called me and said, “Be patient. I’m going to involve your character in an organic way.” I said, “I’m all in, man, whatever you want to do. I’ve signed up for the long run. Let me know when you want me to show up.” That first scene in Season 2 between Gallino and Tommy was interesting and surprising to me. It does not have big fireworks or anything. It’s very subtle. It’s simple, but very, very clever. Just like Taylor.
