Billy Bob Thornton is set to reprise his role as Tommy Norris in the highly anticipated second season of Landman, premiering on Paramount+ on Sunday, November 16, 2025. This upcoming season also marks the addition of Oscar nominee Sam Elliott to the cast, intensifying the drama in the oilfields of West Texas as new conflicts and alliances emerge.
Renewal for a Second Season and Continued Success
Following its successful 2024 debut, Landman has been a major hit for Paramount+, attracting over 35 million global streams. The drama’s strong reception led to an official renewal announced in March 2025, with the streaming service praising the series as its most popular original show launch to date. Created by Taylor Sheridan, known for acclaimed projects such as Yellowstone and its prequels, the show offers a fresh take on the oil industry’s complex world.
Season 1 Recap: Power Shifts and Dangerous Encounters
In the first season, Billy Bob Thornton’s character, Tommy Norris, is portrayed as an experienced landman navigating the cutthroat oil business on behalf of tycoon Monty Miller, played by Jon Hamm. As the season concludes, Tommy unexpectedly assumes the leadership of Monty’s company, M-Tex Oil, following Monty’s critical health decline. Monty’s wife, Cami Miller, portrayed by Demi Moore, also steps into a more significant corporate role, solidifying her influence within the company.
The season finale delivers intense drama as Tommy negotiates a vital farm-out deal with Cami while simultaneously becoming a target of the deadly Galino drug cartel. Abducted and tortured by cartel enforcer Jimenez, Tommy is ultimately rescued by the cartel’s leader, Galino, played by Andy Garcia. Galino’s interest in involving Tommy stems from dissatisfaction with Jimenez’s management and a desire to infiltrate the oil business through Tommy’s expertise. The episode closes on a somber note with Monty flatlining in the hospital as his family mourns his fate.
The Fate of Monty Miller and Its Implications
Monty Miller’s apparent death comes as a shock, especially considering Jon Hamm’s compelling portrayal of the character. Co-creator Christian Wallace confirmed Monty’s passing during a post-finale discussion, highlighting the narrative impact on other characters. Wallace explained,
I think Demi’s character in this first season was kind of playing a little bit of second fiddle to Monty, at least in his role as the president of M-Tex Oil.
He further elaborated,
He’s the one that’s calling the shots and has to make these big decisions, and so he’s really the one that’s thrust in the fire and is honestly kind of trying to shield his family from the stress that he’s experiencing, which ultimately plays a role in his demise… And so his passing is kind of an incredible opportunity for Cami to play a bigger role in this world.
Preview of Season 2: Rising Tensions and Hidden Struggles
The upcoming season intensifies the pressure on Tommy Norris as he grapples with his new responsibilities at M-Tex Oil amid growing internal and external conflicts. According to the season’s logline,
As oil rises from the earth, so do secrets – and Tommy Norris’s breaking point may be closer than he realizes,
and
Facing mounting pressure from M-Tex Oil, Cami Miller, and the shadow of his kin, survival in West Texas isn’t noble – it’s brutal. And sooner or later something’s got to break.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly from September 2025, Billy Bob Thornton described Tommy as a “reluctant executive,” still deeply connected to his former role and uncomfortable with his new status. He said,
Tommy’s kind of a reluctant executive and still acting in his old role too, because he’s the kind of guy who can’t really give up what he knows and where he feels the most comfortable.
Thornton characterized season 2 as a “slow burn,” with Sheridan focusing more on developing the relationships among characters.
Ali Larter, who plays Angela, Tommy’s unpredictable ex-wife and mother of his children, referred to the new season as the “heart season,” underscoring its exploration of family dynamics and emotional depth.
Season 2 Trailer Highlights Central Character Dynamics
The official trailer for Landman season 2 places a spotlight on the evolving partnership between Tommy Norris and Cami Miller as they navigate the company’s turbulent waters. Demi Moore shared her view with Entertainment Weekly, saying,
I think, at the beginning, [Tommy] really is her guide and anchor,
and added,
In the opening, you really see that I’m kind of a lamb being thrown into the lion’s den [and] really having to have a real show of strength. And I think Cami is having to operate a little bit out of the fake it till you make it [mentality].
Thornton elaborated on their dynamic, stating,
The dynamic is certainly very interesting because he’s essentially telling her, ‘Look, you’ve got to listen to me because you’ve never done this before.’ And her outlook on that is, ‘How am I going to learn if you do everything?’ That’s really how the dynamic starts.
Returning and New Cast Members Amplify the Story
The second season brings back familiar faces including Billy Bob Thornton, Demi Moore, Jacob Lofland, Michelle Randolph, Paulina Chávez, and Colm Feore, maintaining continuity for viewers invested in the characters’ journeys. Ali Larter’s role as Angela remains central, though it has drawn mixed critical responses regarding the depiction of gender dynamics within the show.
One critic noted,
Tommy and his male peers are three-dimensional disasters; the women, by contrast, are wholly defined by their sex,
highlighting perceived imbalances in character depth. Larter responded by affirming her satisfaction with the role, saying,
Nobody’s putting me in a position that I’m not comfortable being in. I have two children. I’ve been married for 19 years. I love playing this character,
and further added,
I love that Taylor writes for older women — women in their prime, that were still allowed to be alive! I love that he writes that. I know so many women who are like that. I love that she’s able to express that side of herself.
Adding significant star power, Sam Elliott joins the cast as Tommy’s estranged father, bringing his iconic Southern drawl and previous collaboration history with Thornton from Sheridan’s series 1883. Elliott’s character introduces new layers of tension and unresolved family conflict.
Andy Garcia, who made a notable debut as Galino in the first season finale, returns for season 2. Thornton teased their on-screen relationship by saying,
I’ll just say that Andy and I have a very, very interesting dynamic,
while Christian Wallace remarked,
The fact that he is back, I think that’s all you need to know.
Release Date and Viewing Information
Landman season 2 will be available for streaming exclusively on Paramount+ starting Sunday, November 16, 2025, allowing fans to continue following the high-stakes power struggles set against the rugged landscapes of West Texas.
As the show returns, viewers can expect an intense continuation filled with complex characters, escalating conflicts, and deeper examinations of both business intrigues and personal relationships within the oil industry.
