IsLandmanBased on a True Story? Inside the Oil Boom That Disrupted West Texas and Inspired Taylor Sheridan's New Show

Mar. 15, 2025

Billy Bob Thornton as Tommy Norris in ‘Landman’ season 1.Photo:Emerson Miller/Paramount

Emerson Miller/Paramount

“Boomtownwas a labor of love for all of us who worked on the podcast, and nobody could have hosted but Christian, a West Texas native with roughneck experience and fantastic narrative chops,” executive producer Megan Creydt toldTexas Monthlyin September 2024. “It’s a thrill to see this story and world in Taylor Sheridan’s hands and to know Christian has been so integral to a series we’re all going to be glued to.”

Here’s everything to know about the Paramount+ seriesLandmanand the recent history that inspired it.

IsLandmanbased on a true story?

Billy Bob Thornton as Tommy Norris in ‘Landman’ season 1.Emerson Miller/Paramount

A major oil boom in 2019 prompted Wallace to write the article “The Permian Basin Is Booming With Oil. But at What Cost to West Texans?“It struck a chord with readers and eventually morphed into a 12-episode podcast.

Boomtownplunges into the history of the Permian Basin — located in western Texas and southeastern New Mexico — and how it became one of the world’s most productive oil fields. Wallace also investigated the effects of the boom — interviewing roughnecks about the dangers of working on a rig, ranchers who were being exposed to highly potent greenhouse gases and even teachers at Permian High School, whose classroom sizes have become unmanageable due to the influx of families moving to the area.

“I’m from out there. I worked out there, so I knew the people, and I wanted to tell their story in a way I’d never seen or read before,” Wallace told his alma materTexas State Universityin May 2022.

As for translating the podcast to television,Boomtownexecutive producer Creydt toldCBS News Texasthat viewers are in good hands with Sheridan.

“Taylor Sheridan is a Texan himself. He understands this world very well. I imagine we will see a lot of overlap with what we [heard] in the podcast,” she said in September 2024.

What isLandmanabout?

Jon Hamm as Monty Miller and Demi Moore as Cami Miller in ‘Landman’ season 1.Emerson Miller/Paramount

“Oil and gas industry makes 3 billion dollars a day in pure profit, and it’s only getting bigger. But before any of that money is made, you gotta secure the land then manage the people. That’s my job,” Tommy says inLandman’s first official trailer.

“First part is pretty simple, it’s the second part that can get you killed. Getting oil out of the ground is the most dangerous job in the world,” he adds.

Landman’s all-star cast also includes Moore as Monty’s wife Cami Miller,Ali Larteras Thornton’s wife, Angela Norris, and Peña as Armando, an oil crewman.

“It’s a tremendous cast and it’s been super fun to work on,” Hamm told PEOPLE in March 2024. “It’s a story very well told, and I think it’s an interesting take on what happens when it comes to how we get the stuff that makes our cars and our lives and our planes and everything in our modern world go.”

Where wasLandmanfilmed?

Michael Peña as Armando in ‘Landman’ season 1.Emerson Miller/Paramount

While shootingLandman, fans spotted Thornton out and about on several occasions, according toWFAA. While filming, he reportedly visited a popular Tex-Mex restaurant, Joe T. Garcia’s, multiple times.

Sheridan needed several background and supporting actors forLandman, andAschten Aguilar, a local West Texan and former roughneck, was among them. He shared on theBest of Midland Texaspodcast in April 2024 that he brought his real-life experience to the set.

Where can I watchLandman?

Michelle Randolph as Ainsley Norris, Ali Larter as Angela Norris and Billy Bob Thornton as Tommy Norris in season 1.Emerson Miller/Paramount

Landmanwill be available to stream exclusively onParamount+.

Will there be a season 2 ofLandman?

Colm Feore as Nathan, Kayla Wallace as Rebecca Savage and Billy Bob Thornton as Tommy Norris in season 1.Emerson Miller/Paramount

While speaking toDeadlinein May 2024, Moore seemingly confirmed season 2 ofLandman.

“I’ve already completed the first season, and I’m excited for us to start the second, which will be at the beginning of next year,” she told the outlet.

Paramount+ has not publicly announced a second season.

source: people.com