While fans eagerly wait for Landman Season 2, Billy Bob Thornton revealed the one thing that Taylor Sheridan doesn’t allow on set.
Actor Billy Bob Thornton is no stranger to intense characters and gripping scripts, but even he has a few notes when it comes to working with Yellowstone genius Taylor Sheridan. Both the iconic figures have collaborated on the hit series Landman, but working with Sheridan is not as easy as it seems.
In a recent interview, Thornton opened up about one surprising challenge actors face while working with the iconic filmmaker – there’s almost no room for improvisation. While Sheridan is known for his great storytelling and direction, Thornton revealed that even with improv, they only make it to the main cut if Sheridan likes them. Let’s dive deeper!
Billy Bob Thornton on why Taylor Sheridan keeps the Landman script perfect
Taylor Sheridan might be the biggest name on television right now, but according to Landman star Billy Bob Thornton, his scripts leave very little room for actors to improvise, which can be both a strength and a limitation. The iconic actor has worked with the Yellowstone creator first in 1883 and now leads Landman as oil exec Tommy Norris.
He recently shared in an interview via Awards Radar what it’s really like working under Sheridan’s direction and shared that the creator has written some really wonderful scripts. But he also added:
His writing is pretty tight…. there’s not a lot of improvisation on his stuff.
That’s right – while many actors have the habit of adding their own flair to a scene, Thornton says that it’s not typically the case with Sheridan’s shows. He even compared his precision to that of the Coen Brothers, with whom he’s worked in the past, both known for expecting actors to deliver lines exactly as written.
But despite this, Thornton added that the creator also has been fairly open with him personally. Sheridan reportedly told him,
“Look, you’re a writer, you’re a director. You get this stuff. We’re partners in this.”
And because of that mutual respect, the actor occasionally throws in a suggestion, but only if it feels right.
However, despite that, things get added in the mix only when Sheridan likes the improvisation. And if not, then it doesn’t make the final cut.
After this, the conversation shifted to that of Landman season 2, with Thornton adding that things are going smoothly. Also, that after more than a month of shooting, the show is feeling “more real every day” and he’s “very, very happy with it.” Even without a lot of improvisation, Billy Bob Thornton seems confident that Landman is shaping up to be another Taylor Sheridan hit.
What the coyote really means in Landman’s season finale?
In Taylor Sheridan’s Landman, the biggest danger isn’t just from drug cartels or powerful companies – it’s what’s going on inside Tommy Norris’s head. In the season 1 finale, the character sees a coyote standing alone, and this sequence caught the attention of the viewers as well.
The actor talked about the scene in the same Awards Radar interview and detailed that there were originally lines written for the coyote scene. But he and Sheridan decided that it would be better if they took them out. He added:
I think Tommy looks at that coyote and at the end, it’s like, ‘Here they come. They are coming for me.’ Or, ‘Are they coming for me? Am I the coyote, am I looking myself in the eye? Am I this lone wolf out here, just running across these plains trying to keep from getting killed?
For the actor, the coyote was a symbol, and he added that when Norris looks at it, he isn’t sure if he’s like the animal (alone/dangerous) or in trouble.
That final look at the coyote wasn’t just a cool shot – it quietly showed how much Tommy is struggling inside, and it’s a hint that even bigger things are coming next.
