Season 2 of the hit Paramount+ series Landman has introduced a surprising new layer to the character played by Hollywood star Andy Garcia. The actor, known for his role as the cartel boss Gallino, recently revealed a major twist in the show’s latest chapter. In a new interview, Garcia shared that when he returned for Season 2, he discovered his character was operating under a different and unexpected alias.
For fans of Taylor Sheridan’s oil and gas drama, this development adds more mystery to a character who is already pulling strings behind the scenes in West Texas. The reveal connects directly to the ongoing power struggle between Gallino and Billy Bob Thornton’s Tommy Norris.
Andy Garcia on the Surprise Alias and Season 2’s New Role
In interviews discussing the new season, Andy Garcia opened up about the character surprise. He admitted he was not initially aware his character would be introduced in Season 2 with a “different alias”.
“I was not aware that this season would start with my character having a ‘different alias’,” Garcia said.
This alias is Danny Morrell. According to Garcia, this new identity comes with a “kind of duality of life,” which he compared to “Bruce Wayne and Batman”. As Danny Morrell, the character operates as an “investment banker” who is “managing money for a lot of people” and has his “fingers everywhere”. This positioning makes him a significant and influential figure in the season’s new storylines.
This twist follows Garcia’s powerful introduction in the Season 1 finale. In that episode, his character, Gallino, approached Tommy Norris after saving his life. Gallino proposed a partnership, but Tommy rejected the offer. This set the stage for the complex dynamic that continues to unfold.
The Expanding Game Between Gallino and the Norris Family
The core conflict of Season 2 revolves around Gallino’s strategic moves to gain influence over the Norris family’s oil empire. After Tommy rejected his partnership, Gallino did not walk away. Instead, he invested in a new drilling venture started by Tommy’s son, Cooper Norris, played by Jacob Lofland.
This investment paid off, striking “black gold” and successfully pulling both the father and son into Gallino’s orbit. When asked why his cartel character is so interested in the legitimate oil business, Garcia’s answer was simple: “Money. Power. Diversification”.
The tension between Garcia and Thornton’s characters is a highlight of the series. Garcia spoke about the dynamic, noting the mutual respect between the two actors translates on screen.
“When you have two characters who are really good at what they do in their own worlds, and you can match them intellectually, it creates scenes that are fun to watch,” Garcia said.
He also mentioned that their off-screen friendship, which began years ago through mutual friend Robert Duvall, helps fuel their performances. Whether their on-screen relationship becomes a friendship or grows more antagonistic is a key question for the season.
A Major Deal and New Alliances
The chess game between Gallino and Tommy reached a new level in Season 2, Episode 6. Tommy and Demi Moore’s character, Cami Miller, discussed a potential deal with Gallino.
Tommy initially proposed a 70-30 split, offering to pay 20% in service debt to Gallino. Gallino, however, did not accept. He countered with a 60-40 division, demanding a 30% promoter fee off the top. After Tommy refused, Gallino changed his terms to a 20% promotion fee, with the entire 40% share going to debt service until the loan was repaid.
Cami recognized the revised offer as a “good” deal, and Gallino stated it showed “the type of partner” he could be. His stated goal in these negotiations is to earn Tommy’s trust. Garcia explained that this unpredictable nature is a signature of creator Taylor Sheridan’s writing.
“With Taylor, you think the characters are going to be going a certain direction and then he flips the coin, and there’s you coming in from another direction. That was surprising to me when I saw the scripts for Season 2,” Garcia noted.
Garcia’s Entry into the Taylor Sheridan Universe
Andy Garcia’s journey to Landman began with a direct invitation from Taylor Sheridan. The creator, whom Garcia holds in extremely high regard, asked the actor to fly to his home in Fort Worth to discuss a role.
Garcia needed no convincing. He was already a fan of Sheridan’s work from films like Hell or High Water and Sicario. Sheridan told Garcia he was a fan of the actor’s performance in the 1986 film 8 Million Ways to Die and wanted to create a character for him inspired by that role.
“That’s like having a meeting with Shakespeare and him going, ‘I want to write a play with a character for you.’ That’s the way I look at it,” Garcia said of the experience.
Garcia was immediately “all in,” even though the part was not yet written. He has committed to the series for the long term, stating he’s “signed up for the long run” and is open to appearing in other shows in Sheridan’s growing universe.
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What’s Next for Landman Season 2?
With the introduction of Danny Morrell, Garcia’s role is set to expand. The actor confirmed that viewers will see more of his character’s life outside of his dealings with Tommy Norris. This includes scenes with his on-screen wife, played by actress Stefania Spampinato.
The season continues to roll out on Paramount+. Following the release of Episode 7, new episodes are scheduled to arrive. Episode 8 is set for January 4, with the final two episodes of the ten-episode season landing on January 11 and January 18.
The series also welcomes another iconic actor this season: Sam Elliott. While Garcia was coy about whether their characters share scenes, he expressed admiration for his fellow cast member.
Garcia’s mysterious dual role as Gallino and Danny Morrell is poised to create more intrigue and conflict as Landman heads toward its second season finale.
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