Taylor Sheridan Landman audition process stands out for its intensity and selectiveness, with stars experiencing vastly different paths to their roles on his Paramount+ drama. While Jon Hamm landed his spot with what he describes as his easiest audition ever, Ali Larter had to endure a challenging, competitive process before securing her place in the cast.
Sheridan’s Approach to Casting: Handpicking Actors for His World
Taylor Sheridan is known for carefully selecting actors who can not only deliver strong performances but also handle the demanding environments of his stories. His reputation for building strong ensembles has drawn attention from actors across the industry, including names like Jon Hamm and Ali Larter.
“If you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain,”
Dolly Parton once said—a sentiment that perfectly fits the audition experiences of Sheridan’s cast, each earning their stripes in their own way.
Jon Hamm’s Effortless Entry into Landman
Landing the role of Monty on Landman was a surprisingly easy task for Jon Hamm. He described his experience as the “greatest audition ever” and highlighted the relaxed nature of Sheridan’s process. Appearing on The Rich Eisen Show, Hamm recalled how he was invited to Sheridan’s ranch in Weatherford, West Texas, west of Fort Worth, for a low-key meeting about the role.
“[Sheridan] has this massive ranch down in West Texas in Weatherford – just west of Fort Worth. You go down there and he goes, ‘This is what I’m thinking, this is what I want to do. What do you think?’ And you go, ‘Great, yeah, I want to do that.’ That’s it. It’s the greatest audition process ever.”
—Jon Hamm, Actor
There were no long waits under fluorescent lights or crowded rooms filled with lookalikes—just a straightforward conversation with Sheridan, who made it clear he wanted Hamm for the part. Hamm publicly called it
“the greatest audition I’ve ever had,”
a level of ease that is unusual in such a competitive industry.
Despite the positive experience, Hamm’s time on Landman was brief; his character, Monty, met his end in Season 1. However, Hamm expressed gratitude for being part of Sheridan’s creative ensemble and praised both Sheridan and co-star Billy Bob Thornton for their professionalism and talent. He acknowledged his own inability to commit to a lengthy television schedule but made it clear that his involvement in Landman was a professional highlight.
Ali Larter’s Intense Battle for the Role of Angela Norris
In sharp contrast to Hamm’s relaxed experience, Ali Larter’s path to her role was far more demanding. Larter, familiar to audiences from Varsity Blues and other works, revealed that her audition for Landman was a grueling ordeal. She shared her recollections in an interview, providing a window into the tremendous mental pressure faced by hopefuls seeking to work on a Sheridan project.
“You get called in one by one, and then you have to wait until everyone’s done. It is no joke! When I say the mental game is so much of our business, you have to be able to perform…”
—Ali Larter, Actor
Larter began with just a few pages of script before receiving additional material. The process grew more intense, culminating in a flight to Fort Worth for an in-person test, where she was one of a dozen candidates vying for the role of Angela Norris. The tension and competition were unmistakable, with Larter determined to stand out.
“Taylor puts people under this kind of pressure to see if you can deliver when you’re working on his sets, because his sets have moments like that. As much as it sounds cruel, I can actually look back on it now as a way of editing out who can handle and withstand the heat.”
—Ali Larter, Actor
Ultimately, Larter’s perseverance and determination paid off. She views the intense audition as a proving ground that reflects Angela Norris’s own tenacity—a quality she believes is crucial for her character’s appeal. Larter’s investment, both emotional and physical, has shaped the character in meaningful ways.
The Dynamic Between Larter and Billy Bob Thornton
Larter’s work on Landman is marked by her collaboration with Billy Bob Thornton, who plays Tommy Norris. Their on-screen relationship is complex, marked by moments of both conflict and connection. This dynamic, according to Larter, emerged from the commitment and energy brought by the cast during production.
“All of us in the first season put in a tremendous amount of time and energy to build this house that we live in. There was a lot of the fighting and vitriol between the two, and Billy and I wanted moments of that, but we really worked to find our connection as humans that we could then bring into our work.”
—Ali Larter, Actor
This dedication appears on screen as a lived-in, authentic chemistry between Angela and Tommy, creating a compelling portrait of two flawed but relatable characters navigating personal and professional challenges.
What Lies Ahead for Landman and Its Stars
As Landman moves toward its second season, the show is poised to explore Angela Norris’s journey even further, with Larter remaining at the heart of the ensemble. Although Jon Hamm’s Monty has departed, unless flashbacks or dream sequences bring him back, the stage is set for Larter’s character to confront new challenges and hopefully address any criticisms leveled by fans.
Taylor Sheridan’s unique and demanding audition process continues to shape Landman’s cast, forging performers who not only act but truly embody their roles. Whether they find themselves welcomed effortlessly like Hamm or tested rigorously like Larter, each performer contributes to the intensity and authenticity that define Sheridan’s work. As Paramount+ prepares to air the new season, viewers can look forward to seeing these talents—old and new—return to Sheridan’s carefully curated, high-stakes world.
