‘Landman’ to ‘Hit Man’: Texas Monthly Fuels Heartland Adaptation Boom in Hollywood

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As a long-time reader and admirer of Texas Monthly, I can attest to their extraordinary ability to unearth tales that resonate beyond the Lone Star State. The recent surge of interest from Hollywood is no coincidence; it’s a testament to the magazine’s unwavering commitment to compelling storytelling and their unique knack for finding humor in the darkest of narratives.

Amid the launch of Taylor Sheridan’s latest series, Landman, oil isn’t the only precious resource being discovered in Texas. Content from the venerable publication Texas Monthly has been enjoying an unprecedented boom of interest from Hollywood, with adapted projects ranging from the Paramount+ drama and Richard Linklater’s recent Netflix movie Hit Man to the HBO limited series Love & Death and the Discovery+ documentary series How to Create a Sex Scandal. 

What makes Texas Monthly so prominent these days, especially recently? One possible explanation is that the magazine’s strengths – its captivating and thorough true crime coverage, notably by esteemed author Skip Hollandsworth, whose work was the basis for the acclaimed series “Hit Man” – have become more relevant as the cultural focus on true crime has grown.

Megan Creydt, Texas Monthly’s executive producer for TV, film, and podcasts, remarks, “He skillfully combines the grim subject matter of murders and tragic events with a unique brand of dark humor in his character development and storytelling.

Five years ago, the publication aimed to transform from a traditional magazine into a more storytelling-focused journalistic organization, as stated by Creydt. This transition involved establishing a podcast studio and launching shows like “Boomtown,” which ran for 12 episodes in 2019 and was hosted by Christian Wallace. Additionally, there were changes in representation, with Texas Monthly moving under the management of Ann Blanchard from CAA. Creydt explains that Blanchard has assembled a team of scripted agents who work with the publication, including a few feature agents and a couple of non-scripted agents. Furthermore, strategic moves such as securing a first-look deal at HBO were made, benefiting from the fact that Max’s head of originals, Sarah Aubrey, was once an intern at Texas Monthly.

Beyond this, it’s worth noting that Texas, known as the Lone Star State, stands out as an exceptionally American state, boasting a distinctive, grand persona. Being the second most populous state in the U.S., ahead of California, it offers a diverse blend of extreme affluence and profound poverty, bustling metropolises, and expansive, picturesque open spaces. This unique combination makes Texas an endless wellspring of intriguing stories for publications that have historically granted their authors ample time to craft a single piece, sometimes even months. Notably, these writers and contributors also benefit from revenue sharing when their stories are selected.

William Boyles Jr., the creator of hit films such as “Cast Away” and “Apollo 13”, was one of the founders of “Texas Monthly”. This magazine has always had a knack for telling stories cinematically, according to editor Creydt. When asked about the secret behind its recent success, he replied, “It’s top-notch narrative journalism.” He also added that there is a recognition in Hollywood that it’s worthwhile to pay attention to areas outside the limelight, and Texas, being unique with an abundance of intriguing characters and tales, often provides stories that are hard to find in New York publications.

The producer acknowledges that the worth of Texas Monthly extends beyond their latest tales, encompassing their half-century collection as well. Pieces like those that influenced “Hit Man” and “Love & Death”, which were 23 and 40 years old respectively, still hold relevance today. She expresses excitement about exploring the archive, finding pieces that remain pertinent even now. This is a novelty for them; during the writer’s strike, they delved deeply into their archive to maintain productivity.

This tale was initially published in the November 13th edition of The Hollywood Reporter’s magazine. If you’d like to subscribe and receive future editions, click here.

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2024-11-21 19:54