When Landman premiered on Paramount+ on November 17, 2024, it struck like a gusher in the West Texas oilfields, delivering a raw, unflinching drama that captured the gritty pulse of America’s energy frontier. Created by Taylor Sheridan and Christian Wallace, and inspired by the Boomtown podcast, the series plunged viewers into the high-stakes world of oil rigs, where roughnecks and wildcat billionaires chase fortunes that reshape economies, climates, and lives. Billy Bob Thornton’s portrayal of Tommy Norris, a hard-bitten landman and crisis manager for M-Tex Oil, anchored the show’s blend of family drama, corporate intrigue, and visceral action. With a star-studded cast including Jon Hamm, Demi Moore, Ali Larter, and Jacob Lofland, Season 1’s 10 episodes—released weekly through January 12, 2025—earned a 78% Rotten Tomatoes score and became Paramount+’s biggest premiere in two years.

Now, Landman Season 2 is set to ignite screens in November 2025, with production already wrapped in August 2025 after filming in Fort Worth, Jacksboro, and other North Texas locales. The season kicks off with a seismic event: the funeral of Monty Miller (Jon Hamm), whose sudden death in Season 1’s finale left M-Tex Oil in chaos. This isn’t just a farewell—it’s a battleground where three old enemies collide, vowing vengeance over a secret buried beneath the earth. Billy Bob Thornton returns as Tommy, now steering M-Tex under the shadow of Monty’s widow, Cami Miller (Demi Moore), who steps into a commanding role. Andy Garcia’s cartel boss Galino escalates the stakes, arriving from Mexico with a warning and a coffin, while Sam Elliott joins as a mysterious figure guarding a devastating truth tied to the oilfields. Season 2 promises a firestorm of blood, betrayal, and black gold, as Taylor Sheridan unleashes his signature neo-Western chaos. This article dives into the release date, cast shake-ups, explosive plot twists, and the buried secret that could tear West Texas apart.

Season 1: A Gusher of Grit and Glory

Landman Season 1 introduced viewers to the brutal, intoxicating world of West Texas oil, where fortunes are made and lives are lost in the shadow of towering rigs. Tommy Norris, played with grizzled intensity by Billy Bob Thornton, was the heart of the story—a landman and Operations VP at M-Tex Oil, juggling corporate crises, family chaos, and the ever-present threat of violence. His fractured relationship with ex-wife Angela (Ali Larter) and their kids, Cooper (Jacob Lofland) and Ainsley (Michelle Randolph), grounded the high-stakes drama in raw human emotion. Jon Hamm’s Monty Miller, the charismatic but flawed M-Tex owner, and Demi Moore’s Cami Miller, his poised yet underutilized wife, added layers of corporate intrigue, while a fatal rig accident and an out-of-town lawyer’s investigation exposed the industry’s dark underbelly.

The season’s 78% Rotten Tomatoes rating praised Thornton’s commanding performance and the show’s vivid portrayal of oilfield life, though critics noted pacing issues and one-dimensional female characters, particularly the over-sexualized depiction of Ainsley. Posts on X echoed fan enthusiasm for the “gritty realism” and Thornton’s “badass” Tommy, but some criticized the show’s handling of women, with one user calling it “cringey and insulting to West Texas women.” Despite these critiques, Landman’s 14.6 million viewers in its first week and Golden Globe nomination for Thornton cemented its status as a hit. The finale, with Monty’s heart attack and Andy Garcia’s chilling debut as cartel boss Galino, set the stage for a volatile Season 2.

Season 2: Release Date and Production Fire

Paramount+ renewed Landman for Season 2 in March 2025, with production kicking off in late March and wrapping by August 2025 in North Texas, including Fort Worth, TCU’s campus, Springtown, and Jacksboro. The release is slated for November 2025, aligning with a tight turnaround that mirrors Sheridan’s relentless pace across his Paramount+ slate (Yellowstone, 1883, Tulsa King). Demi Moore confirmed the early 2025 filming start as early as May 2024, while Ali Larter hinted at a set production timeline in January 2025, urging Paramount+ to “just announce it!” Chris McCarthy, Paramount Global’s co-CEO, announced the November 2025 window during a Q1 2025 earnings call, touting Landman’s record-breaking premiere.

Filming in the blistering Texas summer added authenticity, with Jacob Lofland noting the crew slowed down to avoid heatstrokes. Thornton described the scripts as “like picking up a book you can’t put down,” signaling Sheridan’s vision remains sharp. The choice of North Texas locations, from Jacksboro’s police station to Fort Worth’s urban sprawl, grounds the season’s neo-Western aesthetic, capturing the clash of small-town life and big-money oil. With Sheridan and co-creator Christian Wallace at the helm, alongside executive producers like Thornton and David C. Glasser, Season 2 is poised to deliver the same raw intensity that made Season 1 a streaming juggernaut.

Monty’s Funeral: A Battleground of Old Enemies

Season 2 opens with a powder keg: Monty Miller’s funeral, a seismic event that draws three old enemies into a collision course. Jon Hamm’s Monty, the charming oil titan, died of a heart attack in the Season 1 finale, leaving M-Tex in disarray. His funeral isn’t a somber affair—it’s a crucible where past grudges ignite, and vengeance is sworn. While specific plot details remain under wraps, the narrative teases a trio of adversaries, likely tied to Tommy’s orbit: Andy Garcia’s Galino, the Mexican cartel boss who saved Tommy in the finale; a new figure, possibly Sam Elliott’s enigmatic character; and a third player, perhaps from M-Tex’s corporate or criminal underbelly.

Galino, introduced in Season 1’s final moments, is described as “extremely capable, powerful, and practical,” a cartel leader whose presence looms large. Thornton confirmed Garcia’s expanded role, noting their “old veterans” chemistry brought a natural edge to their scenes. Galino’s arrival with a “warning and a coffin” suggests a deadly ultimatum, possibly tied to M-Tex’s operations or a past debt Monty owed. The funeral could serve as the flashpoint, with Galino’s cartel interests clashing with Tommy’s efforts to stabilize M-Tex. The third enemy might be a new character, like Guy Burnet’s charismatic oil engineer Charlie Newsom, whose “calculated” nature hints at hidden motives, or a returning figure like James Jordan’s Dale Bradley, whose loyalties remain murky.

The Secret Buried Beneath the Earth

At the heart of Season 2 lies a secret “buried beneath the earth,” guarded by Sam Elliott’s mysterious new character. Elliott, a Western icon who starred in Sheridan’s 1883 and shared the screen with Thornton in Tombstone, joins as a series regular, though his role remains undisclosed. Fans speculate he could play a grizzled oil veteran, a landowner with ties to M-Tex’s rigs, or a keeper of a dark truth—perhaps a literal or metaphorical secret, like a hidden oil reserve, a pastcrime, or an environmental scandal. Thornton, who’s known Elliott since the 1980s, called working with him “awesome,” hinting at a pivotal role that leverages Elliott’s gravitas.

The secret could tie to the season’s opening, where “one explosive moment buries a traitor.” This suggests a betrayal within M-Tex or the broader oilfield network, possibly linked to the drug smuggling hinted at in Season 1 or a new corporate conspiracy. The funeral’s volatile setting, with enemies converging, could trigger this moment, dragging the town into a “storm of blood, betrayal, and black gold.” Sheridan’s knack for weaving socio-political commentary—seen in Season 1’s nods to climate, economy, and geopolitics—may frame the secret as a critique of the oil industry’s hidden costs, from environmental devastation to human lives.

Tommy Norris: Ice-Cold and Dust-Covered

Billy Bob Thornton’s Tommy Norris returns as Landman’s beating heart, now president of M-Tex after Monty’s death. His eyes, “ice-cold beneath a dust-covered hat,” reflect a man hardened by loss and battle, yet burdened with new responsibilities. Thornton teased Tommy’s dual role as “an executive and a landman, and a family man, in the midst of this tornado,” navigating corporate chaos, cartel threats, and family ties. His wardrobe—jeans, worn shirts, and the occasional sport jacket—keeps him grounded as a roughneck-turned-leader, refusing the polished sheen of oil barons.

Tommy’s arc will likely center on his efforts to save M-Tex from collapse while facing Galino’s menace and the buried secret. His dynamic with Angela (Ali Larter), his ex-wife with whom he reconciled in Season 1, remains a comedic and emotional touchstone, with Thornton noting her ill-timed calls add levity to his “hell-level” problems. His kids, Cooper and Ainsley, may pull him deeper into personal drama, especially if Ainsley’s controversial portrayal sees a rewrite to address fan backlash. Thornton’s Golden Globe-nominated performance ensures Tommy remains the show’s gritty soul, balancing resilience and vulnerability in a world where every deal could be his last.

Cami Miller: From Sidelines to Power

Demi Moore’s Cami Miller steps out of Monty’s shadow in Season 2, taking charge of M-Tex as its owner. Her expanded role, with second billing behind Thornton, marks a shift from Season 1’s underuse, which critics noted limited her to a “criminally underused” wife. Thornton revealed Cami relies on Tommy’s oilfield savvy, as she “doesn’t know the oil business that well,” setting up a dynamic where they butt heads while steering M-Tex. Moore, fresh off an Oscar nomination for The Substance, brings star power and depth, with fans eager to see Cami “show who she really is,” as Jon Hamm hinted.

Cami’s rise could tie to the buried secret, positioning her as a wildcard in the funeral’s fallout. Her interactions with Galino or Elliott’s character may reveal whether she’s a victim of Monty’s legacy or a player with her own agenda. Sheridan’s history of complex female leads (Yellowstone’s Beth Dutton) suggests Cami could evolve into a formidable force, though the show must address Season 1’s criticism of female stereotypes to fully realize her potential.

New Faces and Rising Stakes

Season 2’s cast expands with heavyweights like Sam Elliott, Guy Burnet, and Miriam Silverman. Burnet plays Charlie Newsom, a “charismatic and calculated” oil engineer who could challenge Tommy’s leadership, while Silverman’s Greta Stidham, an “intimidating” university admissions counselor, hints at ties to the oilfield’s power struggles. Andy Garcia’s Galino, now a major player, brings cartel-driven menace, with Thornton praising their “organic” scenes. Returning cast includes Ali Larter as Angela, Jacob Lofland as Cooper, Michelle Randolph as Ainsley, and others like Paulina Chávez, Kayla Wallace, and James Jordan. Jon Hamm’s Monty is gone, but flashbacks could feature him.

New conflicts may include corporate rivalries, cartel violence, or environmental scandals, with the funeral serving as a catalyst. Sheridan’s signature themes—rugged individualism, ambition, and moral ambiguity—will likely frame the season, with the West Texas setting amplifying the stakes. The addition of Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones in a Season 1 cameo suggests more real-world figures could appear, grounding the drama in Texas culture.

Sheridan’s Vision and Production Grit

Taylor Sheridan and Christian Wallace helm Season 2, backed by a production team including Thornton, David C. Glasser, and Imperative Entertainment. Filming in Texas’s summer heat, from Fort Worth to Jacksboro, ensures authenticity, with locations like a police station and church adding texture. Sheridan’s ability to tap into America’s cultural pulse—seen in his Yellowstone empire—drives Landman’s appeal, blending neo-Western grit with commentary on energy and capitalism. Thornton praised Sheridan’s vision, saying, “Taylor knows this world,” while co-creator Wallace expressed hope to keep telling these stories.

The season’s music, composed by Andrew Lockington (Mayor of Kingstown), and UMG Nashville’s soundtrack will amplify the drama, while cinematography capturing Texas’s vast oilfields promises visual splendor. With filming wrapped by August 2025, the November premiere positions Landman as a fall powerhouse, potentially alongside Sheridan’s upcoming Yellowstone spinoffs.

Fan Buzz and Critical Hopes

Season 1’s success—14.6 million viewers and a top-10 streaming spot—sets high expectations. Fans on X are hyped for the “bigger drama” and Elliott’s casting, with one post calling it “a Texas-sized showdown.” Critics want tighter pacing and better female characters, with Moore’s expanded role a step in the right direction. Thornton’s tease of “hell-level stakes” and family drama has Reddit buzzing about cartel wars and betrayals, while some hope for less reliance on Sheridan’s trope-heavy style.

Conclusion

Landman Season 2, erupting on Paramount+ in November 2025, promises a firestorm of blood, betrayal, and black gold. Monty’s funeral sets the stage for a clash of enemies, with Billy Bob Thornton’s Tommy Norris, Demi Moore’s Cami Miller, Andy Garcia’s Galino, and Sam Elliott’s mystery man driving the chaos. A buried secret threatens to unravel West Texas, as Sheridan’s neo-Western vision delivers high-octane drama and raw human stakes. With new cast members, intense conflicts, and a town dragged into a storm, Landman Season 2 is poised to be a seismic hit. As the rigs keep drilling, no one’s walking away clean.