From the North Pole to the Texas oil fields, Billy Bob Thornton‘s Landman position was influenced by one among his different iconic characters.
Sequence creator Taylor Sheridan not too long ago revealed that he referenced Thornton’s titular position as Willie T. Stokes in 2003’s Unhealthy Santa when he pitched the Paramount+ sequence to the Oscar-winning actor.
“I stated, ‘I wish to make a drama with Unhealthy Santa operating an oil firm,’” recalled Sheridan on The Invoice Simmons Podcast. “He’s like, ‘That’s the best f*cking factor I’ve ever heard in my life. Yeah, let’s do it!’”
Thornton starred as conman Willie in Unhealthy Santa, a depressed, foul-mouthed alcoholic posing as a mall Santa to drag off as vacation heist along with his companion Marcus (Tony Cox), who performs his trusty elf. The pair reunited for the sequel Unhealthy Santa 2 in 2016.
In Landman, Thornton performs abrasive disaster government Tommy Norris, who struggles to run a West Texas oilfield following a deadly accident.
Billy Bob Thornton as Tommy Norris in ‘Landman’
Emerson Miller/Paramount+
Thornton, who earned a Golden Globe nomination for his efficiency, beforehand admitted to Deadline that he was stunned by the present’s widespread enchantment.
“We thought it was going to enchantment to the center of the nation, that was the hope for it. We didn’t assume the coasts would go for it — we actually didn’t assume it could turn into this large worldwide hit,” he stated. “We had no concept; we’re humbled by that and really happy with it. We now have followers in Uganda, Australia and in all places else.”
Thornton added, “I believe quite a lot of it, and that is simply my feeling, it’s as a result of the characters are all unabashedly who they’re, they usually’re simply sincere about every little thing. Taylor’s exhibits usually can have a vibe, and this has a number of — emotion and humor and drama and absurdity and hazard, all these various things. I believe the range on it appeals to folks.”
