‘Landman’ Is (Sort of) Based on a True Texan Story (2024)

The name behind hits including Yellowstone, Tulsa King and Special Ops: Lioness , Taylor Sheridan has added yet another television series to his ever expanding repertoire. Landman debuted its first episode on November 17, 2024, and has, in the short time since its release, gained popularity among audiences. Helmed by Sheridan, the series features Billy Bob Thornton in the titular role of Tommy Norris. Thornton is joined by names including Jon Hamm, Ali Larter and Jacob Lofland.

Sheridan is known for works that explore complex characters and delve into gritty, difficult environments. Landman is no different. The series focuses on the oil industry in West Texas during the oil boom era. With an intriguing narrative, which does not shy away from the less glamorous effects of the oil boom, and compelling characters, Landman is both an entertaining and thought-provoking watch. Following its protagonist, Tommy, and chronicling his difficult life, the series focuses on the roughnecks who work the oil fields and the billionaires profiting from it. With Landman's authentic depiction of life during the oil boom era, audiences are now questioning if the series is based on true events.

'Landman' Is a Fictional Story Based on a Podcast

See Also

'Landman' Cast and Character Guide: Who's Who in Taylor Sheridan's LatestHowever You Feel About Taylor Sheridan Right Now, 'Landman' Is Great TVBilly Bob Thornton is a strong 'Landman' – but the show's women are often caricaturesLandman Review: Taylor Sheridan's Oil Industry Drama Is a Worthy Successor to Yellowstone

4/5

Landman

Drama

Cast

Billy Bob Thornton , Ali Larter , Michelle Randolph , Jacob Lofland , Alejandro Akara , James Jordan , Kayla Wallace , Paulina Chávez , Mark Collie

Seasons

1

Where To Watch

Paramount+

Despite many viewers wondering if Landman is a true story, the drama is a work of fiction with credits for the series' storyline being owed to Taylor Sheridan. However, Landman is not entirely a work of the imagination. Sheridan found inspiration for the series through a documentary podcast that chronicles the growth of the oil industry in Texas in the 21st century.

Boomtown, Christian Wallace's celebrated podcast, formed the foundation of the show's storyline. The podcast explores the realities of the oil industry in the Lone Star State and takes listeners into the Permian Basin, exploring the oil boom that is affecting and shaping the climate, economy and geopolitics in Texas. Although Sheridan's work may be a work of pure fiction, simply inspired by Wallace's work, Boomtown has roots in real life. Wallace himself worked in the industry, drilling rigs, and relied on his personal experience to host the podcast.

However, Christian Wallace has made it explicitly clear that his podcast was "just a launching point" for Sheridan's show. Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Wallace said:

"Taylor had a lot of his own ideas coming into it and already had some characters and things he wanted to do. So we just combined some elements of the podcast with a story and the family that he already had in mind and it worked out really, really well."

'Landman' Is Inspired by a Real Oil Boom

Although the series is fictional, it does find inspiration in the very real oil booms in Texas. When an oil strike in Texas revealed one of the biggest oil reserves ever encountered, the Permian Basin shot to the top of lists in making a reputation for itself as the most profitable oil region in the United States in the 20th century. This oil boom resulted in rapid development and expansion in Texas, which, prior to this, was primarily a rural area.

The changes that came from the sudden and rapid development flowing from the oil boom had numerous impacts, including reshaping the economic, social and geopolitical aspects of the region. While the United States became the highest oil producing country in the world, the changes in the state's landscape and infrastructure affected the lives of its inhabitants.

Despite the high risks involved in the oil industry, many gravitated towards the economic benefits it promised, and this, too, shaped the working ecosystem in Texas. In fact, many prominent personalities, including George W. Bush and Aubrey McClendon are noted to have worked as landmen at one point in their lives.

The Protagonist of the Series Represents the Landmen Who Made the Oil Boom Possible

Although series protagonist Tommy Norris is not inspired by any one real individual, Tommy's character can be perceived as an amalgamation of all the landmen who made the oil boom a reality. Using Tommy, Sheridan zeroes in on the cost of being a landman. Tommy's dedication and commitment to his job has meant that he endures several hardships in his personal life, including a distance between himself and his family. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Billy Bob Thornton spoke of his character's struggles with balancing his career and family.

"The oil business...it's a job where your time is very limited with the people around you, your friends, your family. And so part of this show is about that struggle to be a father and desperately wanting to be, but having a lot of trouble doing it well."

Although fictional, Tommy's experiences and struggles working in the oil industry echo the hardships and challenges of the profession in real life. Wallace, commenting on the authenticity of the series also said, "But as far as the work and the dangers on the rig, risking life and limb, that's all very very real." Moreover, Tommy's dedication to his job at M-Tex Oil also reflects the real life commitment that landmen have towards their own oil companies, which are not too different from the fictional company in Landman. As such, although the series is fictional, Sheridan has drawn inspiration for the show, especially in putting together his characters, from very real experiences. This has ultimately ensured that both the narrative and characters of the series remain extremely relatable.

In true Taylor Sheridan style, Landman is a compelling watch and is written in a manner which makes it truly realistic. Despite the series being fictional, the inspiration it draws from real life events and real life people and their experiences makes the series appear authentic and relatable. With the inclusion of characters such as Tommy Norris, the series highlights both the pros and cons of the American oil industry and the impact of the industry on the lives of individuals. As with any work created for screens, certain aspects are admittedly dramatized for entertainment purposes. However, the series does not push the boundaries of becoming completely unbelievable and retains a quality of realism and authenticity throughout. Stream on Paramount+.