Michael Kelly, who plays Byron Westfield, the Deputy Director of Operations for the CIA on Taylor Sheridan’s espionage hit Lioness, is officially making the jump to another corner of the Sheridan universe: Landman. Interestingly, Kelly won’t be bringing Westfield along for the ride. Instead, he will be stepping into the boots of a completely different character on the drama, which is headlined by Zoe Saldaña and Nicole Kidman. Kelly is set to portray William Crockett, a man described as the high-powered leader of the world’s largest oil management firm. “He is a titan of industry and everything about him exudes efficiency and money,” reads the official character description.
Trading CIA Operations for Oil Empire Supremacy
Narratively, Kelly’s Crockett is essentially taking the place of Jon Hamm’s season-one character, Monty Miller. Monty was the ruthless oil tycoon who met his demise at the end of the first season, a dramatic shift that elevated his newly widowed wife, Cami Miller, played by Demi Moore, into a position of major authority.
According to Landman co-creator Christian Wallace, the upcoming third season represents a complete “reset” for the oil-oriented series, which primarily revolves around Tommy Norris (Billy Bob Thornton) and his constituents as they attempt to get their struggling oil company back on its feet. “There’s a great level of trust there that whatever Taylor decides will be the right move. There are a lot of possibilities,” Wallace previously told The Hollywood Reporter.
A High-Stakes Reset Following Record-Breaking Viewership
This strategic reset comes on the heels of massive success. At the start of this year, Season 2 set major viewership records for Paramount+, achieving over 9.2 million streaming views for its premiere episode in just its first two days on the service. Views soared by a staggering +262% compared to the first season premiere, officially making it the most-watched premiere for any original series in Paramount+ history.
West Texas Chaos and a Powerhouse Ensemble Cast
Co-created by Taylor Sheridan and Christian Wallace, Landman boasts a powerhouse ensemble. Alongside Billy Bob Thornton, the show stars Oscar-nominated actress Demi Moore, Oscar-nominated Andy Garcia, Ali Larter, and Oscar-nominated Sam Elliott. The sprawling cast also features Jacob Lofland, Michelle Randolph, Paulina Chávez, Kayla Wallace, Mark Collie, James Jordan, and Colm Feore.
As seen in Landman Season 2, oil rises from the earth, but so do secrets—and Tommy Norris’s breaking point may be closer than he realizes. Facing mounting pressure from M-Tex Oil, Cami Miller, and the shadow of his kin, survival in West Texas isn’t noble—it’s brutal. And sooner or later, something’s got to break.
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