Billy Bob Thornton Loves the Dirty Landman Role Taylor Sheridan Wrote for Him

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As a seasoned movie buff with decades of cinematic experiences under my belt, I can confidently say that Billy Bob Thornton‘s return to television is nothing short of a masterstroke. His transformation from the quirky, Oscar-winning protagonist of Sling Blade to the oil-slicked, profanity-laced character in Landman is a testament to his versatility as an actor.

In a shift from his role in “Sling Blade” to negotiating oil deals, Academy Award winner Billy Bob Thornton is using his celebrated skills for a noteworthy performance on television. The highly anticipated series, titled “Landman“, comes from Oscar-nominated Taylor Sheridan, who this time delves into the world of West Texas oil business. You might recognize Thornton from his roles in “Yellowstone” and its prequel series, “1883”. Now, he’s taking center stage in Sheridan’s latest small-screen project. In an interview with MovieWeb during the promotional tour for “Landman“, which is set to premiere on Paramount+ on November 17, Thornton shared insights into his collaboration with Sheridan and how their partnership began.

As a movie enthusiast, I had an enjoyable time on the show “1883”. I made a brief appearance and shared a few scenes with the cast. Incidentally, during the premiere of “1883”, the creator approached me and discussed a potential project called “Landman” with me. We sat down and he expressed his desire to create a series centered around me, using my voice for the project. Needless to say, I was overjoyed by the opportunity and felt a strong connection to the script as it seemed perfectly tailored to my style.

Thornton went on discussing his most recent captivating character, Tommy – a connection man who navigates the complex relationships among wealthy oil magnates, local police, and hardworking oil rig laborers in Texas.

I prefer to avoid roles that don’t suit me well. In the acting industry, it’s easy to fall into the trap of taking such roles, but I didn’t have to resort to mimicking others for this one. To be honest, it felt like a perfect fit – almost as if it was tailor-made for me. I believe Taylor had me in mind when writing the part, which made me really excited and proud about our collaborative effort on it.

Billy Bob Thornton’s ‘Organic’ Profanity

Regarding Yellowstone, Thornton admitted that his schedule has been packed – between performing with his band and immediately jetting off for foreign press tours for Landman – leaving him little time to catch up on the most recent buzzworthy season of the original series. “I haven’t had an opportunity to watch anything, and my in-flight entertainment system didn’t seem to want to cooperate during my flight to London,” he jokingly shared with us.

Thornton didn’t shy away from delving deeper into the intricacies of his unconventional Landman character. Tommy appears to be a character brimming with quick-witted, vulgar one-liners, often aimed at anyone who poses a threat to his business transactions. His dialogue bears a distinct Western oil rig flavor reminiscent of his Bad Santa character. As Thornton put it, “Tommy’s profane remarks are quite fitting, you understand, for the kind of person he is,” emphasizing that these memorable quotes feel genuine to the character.

Growing up in a challenging environment shaped his speech, and it’s this unique trait about him that I admire. I appreciate Tommy’s sense of humor, as it adds depth to his character. If I were to portray the character solely as an emotional or dramatic role, I believe it might lose its humanity. I was genuinely pleased when Taylor introduced some humor into the performance.

Beginning November 17 on Paramount+, courtesy of MTV Entertainment, the series “Landman” will make its debut with the premiere of its first two episodes. Subsequent episodes will be released every Sunday thereafter. To catch the streaming, click on the link provided below:

Watch Landman

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2024-11-14 05:33