**‘Landman’ Star Billy Bob Thornton on Taylor Sheridan’s Move from Paramount to NBC Universal**
Billy Bob Thornton, star of the hit series *Landman*, is weighing in on the recent news that creator Taylor Sheridan is ending his partnership with Paramount and moving to NBC Universal.
Speaking to *The Hollywood Reporter* at the *Landman* Season 2 premiere on November 11, Thornton, 70, who plays Tommy Norris—a landman for an oil company—offered his perspective. “I think the shows that are at Paramount stay at Paramount, so I don’t think those are affected,” he said. “His deal is for the future. And who knows what that holds. Taylor is a brilliant guy, and I’m sure wherever he goes, whatever he does is gonna be successful. At least I know it’ll be real.”
Joining the cast this season is Sam Elliott, 81, who portrays Tommy’s father. Elliott also spoke to *The Hollywood Reporter*, assuring fans that Sheridan’s departure won’t impact the *Landman* series. “It’s not gonna impact the future of this series because everything that Taylor had at Paramount is gonna stay at Paramount. It’s not like he’s taking it there,” Elliott explained. “The Universal thing, as I understand, it’s a whole new deal. So it’s just great for Taylor’s world. I think it’s fantastic.”
On October 27, *The Hollywood Reporter* broke the news that Sheridan, 55, is leaving Paramount for a new, reportedly $1 billion five-year contract with NBC Universal. Sheridan’s deal with Paramount was set to end in 2028, and under the new agreement, he will begin making movies for NBCU in 2026 and television shows in 2029.
During his tenure at Paramount, Sheridan created several popular series, including *Yellowstone* and its spinoffs *1923* and *1883*, as well as other star-studded shows such as *Lioness* (starring Zoe Saldana), *Tulsa King* (starring Sylvester Stallone), *Mayor of Kingstown* (starring Jeremy Renner), and *Landman*. Importantly, Paramount still owns all the content Sheridan developed while under contract, meaning shows like *Tulsa King* and potential future *Yellowstone* spinoffs (such as the rumored *6666* ranch series) will remain with Paramount and will not move to NBC Universal.
According to reports from the *Wall Street Journal*, Sheridan’s departure stemmed from disagreements with Paramount’s new CEO David Ellison following the company’s merger with Skydance Media. Ellison proposed a series tied to America’s 250th anniversary in 2026. Although *Yellowstone* has been widely seen as a conservative-themed show, Sheridan has stated publicly that he is “apolitical” and aims to portray all sides of the political spectrum. Sheridan reportedly expressed to Ellison that he did not want to develop a series that was “too politically charged.”
Additionally, Sheridan’s exit was reportedly influenced by a scheduling and creative conflict involving Nicole Kidman, who stars in *Lioness*. Paramount allegedly cast Kidman in a separate series, *Discretion*, without Sheridan’s consultation, potentially causing scheduling conflicts. Sheridan interpreted this as a “lack of respect” for his projects.
The *Landman* Season 2 red carpet event on November 11 also featured Demi Moore, 63, who stunned attendees in a plunging lace gown. Co-star Ali Larter, 49, who plays Tommy’s ex-wife Angela, was also present. Larter recently defended Sheridan in an interview with *People* amid criticisms concerning Angela’s frequent scantily clad appearances on screen. She described Sheridan as “a provocateur” who “loves to write characters that make people respond, that initiate a reaction, a feeling.” Larter added, “What’s incredible about our show, and a lot of the shows that Taylor makes, is that they’re all wildly original and authentic to themselves.”
*Landman* returns for its second season on Sunday, November 16.
https://nypost.com/2025/11/12/entertainment/landmans-billy-bob-thornton-sam-elliott-talk-taylor-sheridan-paramount-exit/