Paramount’s New Show Shines a Spotlight on Our Industry
Grab some popcorn, kick back, and dive into the wild world of “The Landman,” premiering Nov. 16th on Paramount. It may be more fiction than fact, but it’s sure to add a spark of appreciation for the type of work we do.
Now, fair warning: this show has that Hollywood edge. The trailer kicks off with Billy Bob Thornton (yep, he’s the landman!) delivering a line you’re not likely to hear around the courthouse: “The oil and gas business makes $3 billion dollars a day in pure profit—and it’s only getting bigger. But before any of that money is made, you gotta secure the land and manage the people. That’s my job. The first part’s pretty simple. It’s the second part that can get you killed.”
Cue the explosions! The preview rolls on with oil rigs, hospital rooms, angry tycoons, and a few heated boardroom showdowns. It’s big, it’s bold, and probably not what your average day looks like, but let’s be real—it’s fun to see landmen stepping into the limelight with a bit of extra Hollywood drama.
For most of us, the oil and gas industry has always had its moments in the movies, but landmen? We usually don’t get the starring role. “Landman” changes that, showing a charismatic (if slightly intense) character moving between roughneck sites and high-powered meetings. Sure, it’s not all accurate, but there’s something thrilling about seeing even a fictional version of our work in a spotlight.
And who knows? This series might catch the eye of young professionals out there who’ve never considered land work. With our industry facing challenges in recruiting new talent, “Landman” might just shine a light on what we really do—Keeping America energy independent.