bv. Hollywood has picked a fight — and Billy Bob Thornton is charging straight into it. As Landman ignites fierce controversy, Thornton isn’t staying quiet. He’s stepping up, throwing his full weight behind co-star Ali Larter, and blasting what he calls “cartoonish” criticism with zero hesitation. Shaped by a life split between Arkansas and Texas, Thornton insists the characters sparking outrage aren’t over-the-top inventions — they’re pulled straight from real life. What some dismiss as exaggeration, he calls truth. Gritty. Unfiltered. Unapologetic.In an industry quick to judge and slow to understand, Landman refuses to soften its edges. This isn’t damage control. This is a line drawn in the sand — a cultural showdown powered by raw storytelling and a cast that won’t back down.
Billy Bob Thornton defends Ali Larter’s ‘cartoonish’ Landman role Thornton also shielded creator Taylor Sheridan from criticism.
Landman is the latest series from Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan, who created the show alongside Christian Wallace. It’s based on Wallace’s own podcast, Boomtown, and follows oil rig executive Tommy Noris (Thornton) as he tries to steer his company to the top amid a fuelling boom.
In the series, Final Destination and Heroes actor Ali Larter plays Tommy’s ex-wife, Angela – and Larter’s performance has drawn criticism from reviewers who described her performance as overdone.
However, Thornton, who has just received a Golden Globe nomination for his role, disagrees with this notion and, in a new interview about the show, he acknowledged that, while Sheridan has found success with his TV show empire, he has “had a hard way to go with the critics over the years”.
Thornton, 69, told Deadline: “I mean, he’s such a powerful guy. It’s easy to knock him down. But he’s had the best reviews he’s ever had for Landman.
“Some of them mentioned the women and how Ali’s character may be a little cartoonish or whatever. And I got to tell you, I was raised down there in Arkansas and Texas, and women like Ali exist. It’s hard to look that good, but some of ’em do.
He continued: “I mean, there are women around that Dallas-Fort Worth area who look like models, and they’re just like elbows and eyebrows every minute.”
One of Sheridan’s other shows, Yellowstone, is drawing to an end later this month.
*Spoilers for Yellowstone follow below*
The conclusion to the series that follows ranch owners in Montana has been killing off multiple characters, including Kevin Costner’s lead character whose departure from the series has been well documented and mired in controversy.
After the airing of his character’s death, the Oscar winner said: “I didn’t see it. I’m going to be perfectly honest. I didn’t know it was actually airing last night. I didn’t realise yesterday was the thing.”
In the most recent episode of Yellowstone’s final season, Sheridan himself showed up alongside supermodel Bella Hadid, whom he cast as his girlfriend.
Landman is available to stream on Paramount+
