From the creator of Yellowstone and 1883 comes another gritty, high-stakes tale of American ambition and consequence. Land Man is the latest series from Taylor Sheridan’s hit-making empire, set in the volatile world of West Texas oil.
Based on the Boomtown podcast, the series follows the rough-and-tumble characters working on the frontlines of the oil boom, where fortunes are made and lost overnight. Blending real-world issues like climate change, wealth disparity, and corporate power with Sheridan’s signature intensity and moral complexity, Land Man is already generating major buzz ahead of its premiere on Paramount+.
Here’s a closer look at the star-studded cast bringing this modern-day oil saga to life.
Billy Bob Thornton as Tommy Norris
Academy Award winner Billy Bob Thornton leads the cast as Tommy Norris, a crisis manager for an oil company navigating the fallout from environmental disasters and public relations nightmares. Thornton brings his signature gravelly charisma and emotional depth to the role, portraying a man who’s equal parts fixer, operator, and survivor in a world driven by greed and power. Known for standout roles in Sling Blade, Goliath, and Fargo, Thornton is no stranger to morally ambiguous characters and Tommy might be one of his most layered yet.
Michelle Randolph as Ainsley Norris
Michelle Randolph plays Ainsley, Tommy Norris’s daughter. As she steps into the spotlight of the family’s oil legacy, Ainsley must grapple with moral dilemmas, generational expectations, and the cost of big money. Randolph, who appeared in Sheridan’s 1923, brings youthful intensity and emotional resonance to a role that’s sure to evolve as the series unfolds.
Kayla Wallace as Rebecca
Kayla Wallace plays Rebecca, a journalist or environmental watchdog character (role details remain partially under wraps) whose presence may shake up the status quo. Best known for When Calls the Heart, Wallace adds a fresh perspective to the rough West Texas landscape, potentially challenging the power structures at play.
James Jordan as Dale
A regular in Taylor Sheridan’s universe, James Jordan (Yellowstone, Mayor of Kingstown) brings gritty realism to the role of Dale, an oilfield veteran who’s seen it all. Whether offering hardened wisdom or getting his hands dirty in the field, Dale provides a link between the old guard and the chaotic present.
Mark Collie and Paulina Chávez
Mark Collie (Nashville) and Paulina Chávez (The Expanding Universe of Ashley Garcia) round out the ensemble with supporting roles that bring additional complexity and generational contrast to the narrative, reflecting the diverse people swept up in the boomtown frenzy.
Why the Land Man Cast Has People Talking
Taylor Sheridan has a proven formula: assemble a powerhouse cast, drop them into a harsh American landscape, and let moral ambiguity do the rest. Land Man promises to follow suit with a cast that blends veteran gravitas and rising star talent. From Billy Bob Thornton’s conflicted fixer to Ali Larter’s powerful exec and Michelle Randolph’s generational successor, the series is teed up to explore oil country with the same nuance and tension that made Yellowstone a phenomenon.
With oil, power, family, and survival all on the line, Land Man is shaping up to be one of the most compelling dramas on the horizon, and its cast is ready to drill deep.