The hit Paramount+ series Landman pulls viewers into the high-stakes world of Texas oil with gripping drama, but the show’s creators work hard to keep one foot firmly planted in reality. Christian Wallace, the podcast journalist and former roughneck who co-created the show with Taylor Sheridan, serves as the on-set guardian of authenticity. His unique background and daily presence ensure the series respects the real workers and complex realities of the energy industry, even while crafting entertaining television.
Wallace’s journey from the oil fields to a Hollywood writers’ room is key to the show’s realistic feel. He grew up in West Texas, where the boom-and-bust cycles of oil dictated life in his small town. He later worked on an oil rig and hosted the podcast Boomtown, which explored the true stories of the industry. When Sheridan wanted to adapt the podcast into a series, he didn’t just buy the rights; he invited Wallace to be his full creative partner. Wallace was on set every day during filming for both seasons, answering questions from the cast and crew and making sure details, from costumes to dialogue, felt genuine.
The Daily Mission for Authenticity on Set
Wallace’s primary role was to be the expert voice for realism. He worked closely with every department, helping actors understand their characters’ world and advising on the look and feel of equipment and locations. He noted that the entire production team showed a strong desire to learn.
“Even from Season 1 to Season 2, it’s amazing to see how much our cast and crew have learned about the oil and gas business, about West Texas,” Wallace said. “I was answering so many more questions in Season 1. And now I’m like, ‘All right, Billy, you’re halfway to becoming a landman.’”
This commitment extended to using real drilling rigs and hiring real roughnecks as background actors to capture the authentic atmosphere of a worksite. The production was filmed on location in Fort Worth, Texas, to ground the story in its true environment.
Balancing Real Facts with Big Drama
While authenticity is a major goal, Wallace is clear that the show’s main mission is to entertain. He admits that a perfectly accurate portrayal of a landman’s job—which involves a lot of computer research and file-checking—would not make for compelling television. To solve this, the show combines roles and uses visual shortcuts.
For example, the main character, Tommy Norris (played by Billy Bob Thornton), performs tasks that in reality would be handled by several different specialists. The show might also use a pressure gauge in a scene as a simple visual clue for the audience, even if an industry expert would note the detail isn’t technically perfect.
“Our mission is to entertain first,” Wallace explained. “We’re still always going to try to get as close to the real deal as we can… But the complexity of what they’re doing… you could easily get bogged down. So we will use shortcuts… it’s just a storytelling device.”
This approach applies to the show’s bigger storylines, too. Wallace states that while the specific relationship between a landman and a cartel as shown is fictional, elements like oil theft, equipment theft, and cartel activity in the region are real issues. Similarly, intense scenes like a pipe-racking accident are based on tragic true events shared with Wallace by family members in the industry.
Real People and Conversations Behind the Characters
The show aims to present the human side of the oil industry, focusing on the workers rather than just the big corporations. Wallace hopes viewers see the men and women who perform difficult, skilled, and often dangerous jobs. Many characters and moments are inspired by real people.
The character of Ainsley, played by Michelle Randolph, embodies the “big Texas personality” Wallace says is common in the region. Some of the most memorable lines come straight from life. A Season 1 scene where Tommy injures his finger and asks for a cigarette and a Dr. Pepper before going to the hospital was a direct quote from Wallace’s uncle after a real rig accident.
The series also incorporates real public figures. Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys and a man with a background in oil and gas, made a cameo as himself in the first season. The show even includes a subtle nod to Taylor Sheridan’s other projects with a neon sign for the 6666 Ranch visible in a bar scene.
What Real Landmen Think of the Show
The response from people within the oil and gas industry has been largely positive. Wallace noted that many who were initially skeptical appreciated the show’s effort after seeing it. The American Association of Professional Landmen (AAPL), which represents nearly 12,000 professionals, allowed the production to film scenes in its Fort Worth headquarters to add realism.
Nancy McCaskell, president of the AAPL, acknowledges the show takes creative liberties but sees value in it starting a conversation about a little-understood profession.
“Sure, it’s Hollywood — it’s not going to be entirely accurate. But it’s a chance to explain who we are and what we do,” McCaskell said. “Most people don’t even know this job exists.”
She explained that a real landman, or land manager, is a problem-solver who negotiates agreements with landowners and handles the legal and logistical work that makes energy production possible, for both fossil fuels and renewable sources.
Surprising Details That Are Rooted in Reality
Some of the show’s most colorful details, which audiences might assume are invented for drama, are actually based on fact. Wallace confirmed that bikini-clad baristas serving coffee near oil fields are a real phenomenon in certain areas. The show’s exploration of the economic role of s*x work in boomtowns also reflects a real and complex part of the industry’s ecosystem.
The second season of Landman is currently in production. New episodes are expected to continue balancing these authentic glimpses into the oil industry with the high-stakes storytelling Taylor Sheridan’s series are known for.
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