Billy Bob Thornton Shares Hope for ‘Landman’ Fans Concerned About Tommy in Season 3

Taylor Sheridan has established a reputation for unpredictability, and few shows exemplify that creative restlessness quite like ‘Landman’. The Paramount+ neo-Western drama centers on Tommy Norris navigating the ruthless world of West Texas oil fields, where roughnecks and wildcat billionaires clash in a boom that reshapes the economy and beyond. Over two seasons, the series has consistently surprised viewers, upending their expectations.

One of the most shocking moments in the series was the unexpected death of Monty Miller, portrayed by Jon Hamm, who passed away after a series of devastating strokes in the Season 1 finale. In a January 2025 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Hamm clarified that his character’s exit was always intended, as his role was a one-season commitment from the beginning. This death set a precedent that no actor, regardless of their prominence, is safe in Sheridan’s world.

This precedent has fueled fan anxiety as they anticipate the third season. The Season 2 finale left Tommy Norris fired as president of M-Tex by company owner Cami Miller, played by Demi Moore, putting him at a crossroads and forcing him to forge a new path in the oil industry.

At the Newport Beach TV Fest on June 6, Thornton addressed the swirling speculation directly, telling Us Weekly that creator Taylor Sheridan is “going to let me hang around,” suggesting that Tommy is not leaving the show anytime soon.

This reassurance comes as ‘Landman’ enjoys some of its strongest momentum to date. The Season 2 finale attracted a record-breaking 15.8 million viewers within two days of its release. Paramount confirmed Season 3 even before Season 2 finished airing, with the full cast, including Thornton, Demi Moore, Sam Elliott, and Ali Larter, all expected to return, and filming scheduled to begin in May.

However, not all cast members are as certain about what lies ahead. Ali Larter, who plays Angela Norris, admitted she has no idea what Sheridan has in store, stating that she cannot assume or guess what he will envision for Season 3, while acknowledging that the cast’s deep understanding of each other’s dynamics provides a solid foundation to build upon.

Andy Garcia, who portrays Gallino, echoed that trust in Sheridan’s storytelling, praising the writing as layered and emotionally nuanced, with insights into relationships that he described as a privilege to work with.

This isn’t the first time Thornton has had to address rumors about his future on the show. Following the Season 2 finale, which sparked a wave of online speculation regarding his potential exit, he dismissed those claims as “AI-generated crap,” telling USA Today that the rumors were far from reality.

At the Newport Beach event, where he received the TV Performance of the Year Award, Thornton also took the opportunity to advocate for Sheridan’s long-overdue recognition in the industry, emphasizing that “he writes great stuff” and has built “quite an empire.”

Season 3 is set to begin filming in North Texas later this summer, with a planned November premiere window keeping the show on its annual release schedule. Tommy Norris has survived cartel kidnappings, corporate betrayals, and being ousted from M-Tex, and now he enters Season 3 ready to build something of his own. Whether this hard-won momentum positions him as the show’s strongest protagonist or simply the most satisfying character to eventually break is a question ‘Landman’ fans are eager to debate — what are your thoughts on Tommy’s chances of surviving Sheridan’s pen?