Landman’s Billy Bob Thornton Addresses Sam Elliott Playing His Dad Despite 11-Year Age Difference (Exclusive)

Billy Bob Thornton weighed in on Sam Elliott playing his dad on Landman — despite them only being 11 years apart in age.

“That’s gone on since movies started,” Thornton, 70, exclusively told Us Weekly while attending the Newport Beach TV Fest sponsored by Visit Newport Beach on Saturday, June 6.

The actor recalled similar experiences on other projects, adding, “Kathy Bates played my mom in Bad Santa too and she is nine years older. It’s acting, it’s a movie.”

Thornton continued: “Let’s say that it’s not in the newspapers or Wikipedia — how old anybody is — then nobody would say a word.”

Landman introduced Thornton as corporate fixer Tommy working for an oil titan (Jon Hamm) while building up to its promise of plot twists. The season finale killed off Hamm’s Monty while Tommy was named the president of M-Tex before getting kidnapped — and severely beaten — by a drug cartel leader. Tommy is eventually released with the promise that he will work with the cartel.

Season 2 raised the stakes by shaking up the narrative with Demi Moore’s Cami added into the mix more. Elsewhere in the show, Ali Larter‘s Angela, Jacob Lofland‘s Cooper, Michelle Randolph‘s Ainsley and more are at the center of their own drama.

After Landman went through some surprise onscreen losses, Thornton addressed if Tommy could be next.

“I think Yana Grebenyuk Taylor [Sheridan] is going to let me hang around,” he told Us, hinting that his character won’t be killed off just yet.

Thornton went on to show his support for Sheridan’s work — and once again took the chance to advocate for the prolific producer’s lack of award show recognition.

“It’s like, ‘If you have a disagreement over someone’s way or vibe or whatever it is, that’s not the point,” he noted. “The point is, is he good? He writes great stuff.”

Thornton continued, “He’s created quite an empire — and you have to respect him for that. He has the fame, he has the success, he deserves to be recognized for his work in TV shows, for sure.”

Landman is streaming on Paramount+.